Police arrested several people in Kazakhstan's capital Thursday protesting a decision to rename the city in honour of Nursultan Nazarbayev who stepped down as president after three decades in office.&nbsp;

Career diplomat and political loyalist Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was sworn into office Wednesday less than 24 hours after Nursultan Nazarbayev, the only leader an independent Kazakhstan had ever known, suddenly announced he was stepping down.&nbsp;

Tokayev immediately proposed changing the name of the Central Asian nation's capital from Astana to Nursultan, or "Sultan of Light" in Kazakh, and parliament approved the change within hours.

On Thursday at least a dozen demonstrators protesting the name change close to the capital's mayoral office were arrested by police, one of the protesters told AFP. &nbsp;

They were subsequently released.&nbsp;

"There were around a dozen of us," Askhat Akhmedyarov, who is an artist, told AFP.

"They put us in a police van and took us to the police station where they checked our phones. They wanted to know if we had any ties to (the opposition)," he said.&nbsp;

"I am at home now," he confirmed, adding that he had not been fined by police.

The interior ministry did not comment on the arrests. &nbsp;

Public gatherings in Kazakhstan are illegal unless they receive permission from local authorities, which is almost never provided in the case of political demonstrations.

Akhmedyarov said he was protesting a name change that "showed Nazarbayev's insecurity."

"This is a person who has looted the country and left millions in poverty. Now he has named the capital after himself and put a puppet president in charge. Next he will probably try to put his daughter (in the presidency)," Akhmedyarov said.&nbsp;

"As a citizen, I have the right to have my voice heard on these issues."

Kazakhs have also been showing their opposition at the name change online.&nbsp;

One online petition against the name change had gathered close over 36,000 signatures as of Wednesday despite the petition website appearing to be blocked in Kazakhstan.&nbsp;

Kazakhstan's Senate on Wednesday also appointed Nazarbayev's eldest daughter Dariga Nazarbayeva as speaker, setting her up as a potential contender to succeed her father.

Tokayev, 65, will serve out the rest of Nazarbayev's mandate until elections due next year, though the former president retains significant powers in the country he ruled for nearly three decades.

Police arrested several people in Kazakhstan's capital Thursday protesting a decision to rename the city in honour of Nursultan Nazarbayev who stepped down as president after three decades in office.

Police arrested several people in Kazakhstan's capital Thursday protesting a decision to rename the city in honour of Nursultan Nazarbayev who stepped down as president after three decades in office. Career diplomat and political loyalist Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was sworn into office Wednesday less than 24 hours after Nursultan Nazarbayev, the only leader an independent Kazakhstan had ever known, suddenly announced he was stepping down. Tokayev immediately proposed changing the name of the Central Asian nation's capital from Astana to Nursultan, or "Sultan of Light" in Kazakh, and parliament approved the change within hours. On Thursday at least a dozen demonstrators protesting the name change close to the capital's mayoral office were arrested by police, one of the protesters told AFP. They were subsequently released. "There were around a dozen of us," Askhat Akhmedyarov, who is an artist, told AFP. "They put us in a police van and took us to the police station where they checked our phones. They wanted to know if we had any ties to (the opposition)," he said. "I am at home now," he confirmed, adding that he had not been fined by police. The interior ministry did not comment on the arrests. Public gatherings in Kazakhstan are illegal unless they receive permission from local authorities, which is almost never provided in the case of political demonstrations. Akhmedyarov said he was protesting a name change that "showed Nazarbayev's insecurity." "This is a person who has looted the country and left millions in poverty. Now he has named the capital after himself and put a puppet president in charge. Next he will probably try to put his daughter (in the presidency)," Akhmedyarov said. "As a citizen, I have the right to have my voice heard on these issues." Kazakhs have also been showing their opposition at the name change online. One online petition against the name change had gathered close over 36,000 signatures as of Wednesday despite the petition website appearing to be blocked in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's Senate on Wednesday also appointed Nazarbayev's eldest daughter Dariga Nazarbayeva as speaker, setting her up as a potential contender to succeed her father. Tokayev, 65, will serve out the rest of Nazarbayev's mandate until elections due next year, though the former president retains significant powers in the country he ruled for nearly three decades.

Several arrested in Kazakhstan protest at capital name change

Kazakhstan's Senate on Wednesday named ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev's daughter Dariga as its new speaker, setting her up as a potential contender for the presidency following her father's shock resignation.

State news agency Kazinform said senators had voted to elect Dariga Nazarbayeva, 55, as their new chief, the day after her father stepped down following nearly three decades as ruler of the Central Asian nation.

Nazarbayeva is the eldest and most politically prominent of Nazarbayev's three children and has long been mooted as a potential successor to her father.

Former Senate leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was sworn in as Kazakhstan's interim president Wednesday.

The Senate position is second in line to the presidency according to the country's constitution. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Tokayev's presidential mandate will last until the end of the term Nazarbayev would have served, which finishes in April 2020, but could end sooner if an early election is called.

Nazarbayeva served as the country's deputy prime minister from 2015 to 2016 and has significant influence over the country's media.&nbsp;

Nazarbayev has in the past rejected the idea of one of his three daughters succeeding him.&nbsp;

Kazakhstan's Senate on Wednesday named ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev's daughter Dariga as its new speaker, setting her up as a potential contender for the presidency following her father's shock resignation.

Kazakhstan's Senate on Wednesday named ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev's daughter Dariga as its new speaker, setting her up as a potential contender for the presidency following her father's shock resignation. State news agency Kazinform said senators had voted to elect Dariga Nazarbayeva, 55, as their new chief, the day after her father stepped down following nearly three decades as ruler of the Central Asian nation. Nazarbayeva is the eldest and most politically prominent of Nazarbayev's three children and has long been mooted as a potential successor to her father. Former Senate leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was sworn in as Kazakhstan's interim president Wednesday. The Senate position is second in line to the presidency according to the country's constitution. Tokayev's presidential mandate will last until the end of the term Nazarbayev would have served, which finishes in April 2020, but could end sooner if an early election is called. Nazarbayeva served as the country's deputy prime minister from 2015 to 2016 and has significant influence over the country's media. Nazarbayev has in the past rejected the idea of one of his three daughters succeeding him.

Kazakhstan Senate names ex-president Nazarbayev's daughter as speaker

Kazakhstan's long-ruling President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed a new prime minister on Monday, his office said, after dismissing the government over a lack of economic development.

"The head of state signed a decree appointing (Askar) Mamin prime minister of Kazakhstan," Nazarbayev's office said on its Twitter account.

Mamin, 53, has previously served as first deputy prime minister and also worked as transport and communications minister and mayor of capital Astana.

Mamin's predecessor Bakytzhan Sagintayev was sacked over what Nazarbayev described as poor economic performance, despite the Central Asian nation's vast energy resources.

Sagintayev was viewed by some analysts as part of a potential leadership transition in the country, which 78-year-old Nazarbayev has ruled over for close to three decades.&nbsp;

Observers point to rising discontent in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic whose commodity-dependent economy has struggled to recover from a 2014 plunge in oil prices.&nbsp;

Western sanctions against Russia, a key trading partner, also hit the economy.

Kazakhstan's long-ruling President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed a new prime minister on Monday, his office said, after dismissing the government over a lack of economic development.

Kazakhstan's long-ruling President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed a new prime minister on Monday, his office said, after dismissing the government over a lack of economic development. "The head of state signed a decree appointing (Askar) Mamin prime minister of Kazakhstan," Nazarbayev's office said on its Twitter account. Mamin, 53, has previously served as first deputy prime minister and also worked as transport and communications minister and mayor of capital Astana. Mamin's predecessor Bakytzhan Sagintayev was sacked over what Nazarbayev described as poor economic performance, despite the Central Asian nation's vast energy resources. Sagintayev was viewed by some analysts as part of a potential leadership transition in the country, which 78-year-old Nazarbayev has ruled over for close to three decades. Observers point to rising discontent in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic whose commodity-dependent economy has struggled to recover from a 2014 plunge in oil prices. Western sanctions against Russia, a key trading partner, also hit the economy.

Kazakh leader appoints new PM after sacking government

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev dismissed the government on Thursday, complaining that "positive changes were not achieved" in the oil-rich state's economy.

"In many areas of the economy, despite the adoption of many laws and government decisions, positive changes have not been achieved," the long-ruling Nazarbayev said in a statement on the presidential website.

While some ministers and deputy ministers are likely to be reinstated, the decision marks the end of Bakytzhan Sagintayev's premiership, which began in 2016.&nbsp;

The 55-year-old was viewed by some analysts as part of a leadership transition in the country, which 78-year-old Nazarbayev has ruled over for close to three decades.&nbsp;

Nazarbayev's statement comes amid rising dissatisfaction in Kazakhstan, whose commodity-dependent economy has struggled to recover from a 2014 plunge in oil prices and Western sanctions against key trade partner Russia.

"GDP growth is mainly achieved due to raw materials," Nazarbayev said in the statement.&nbsp;

"But the government together with the National Bank did not manage to fully create real incentives and tools for high-quality growth of the economy."

Nazarbayev also criticised the government for failing to realise government programmes aimed at boosting living standards.&nbsp;

"The real incomes of the population have not increased. The share of food expenses in the family budget is growing," he said.&nbsp;

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev dismissed the government on Thursday, complaining that "positive changes were not achieved" in the oil-rich state's economy.

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev dismissed the government on Thursday, complaining that "positive changes were not achieved" in the oil-rich state's economy. "In many areas of the economy, despite the adoption of many laws and government decisions, positive changes have not been achieved," the long-ruling Nazarbayev said in a statement on the presidential website. While some ministers and deputy ministers are likely to be reinstated, the decision marks the end of Bakytzhan Sagintayev's premiership, which began in 2016. The 55-year-old was viewed by some analysts as part of a leadership transition in the country, which 78-year-old Nazarbayev has ruled over for close to three decades. Nazarbayev's statement comes amid rising dissatisfaction in Kazakhstan, whose commodity-dependent economy has struggled to recover from a 2014 plunge in oil prices and Western sanctions against key trade partner Russia. "GDP growth is mainly achieved due to raw materials," Nazarbayev said in the statement. "But the government together with the National Bank did not manage to fully create real incentives and tools for high-quality growth of the economy." Nazarbayev also criticised the government for failing to realise government programmes aimed at boosting living standards. "The real incomes of the population have not increased. The share of food expenses in the family budget is growing," he said.

Kazakhstan president sacks government over economic failures