NEW YORK, Dec. 1  -- Human rights activists called on Kazakhstan to clean up its political system before it begins its term as head of a European security alliance.

Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday that the Kazakh government had failed to follow through on its pledges to reform elections laws before becoming the 2010 leader of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

"Before it becomes chair of the OSCE in 2010, it should show its people and the world it is serious about reform," Rachel Denber, director of Europe and Central Asia for Human Rights Watch said in a written statement.

The report said the Kazakhstan government recently sent a reform package to Parliament that contained relatively minor changes. (UPI)