sentences:  Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov resigned on 8 January 2007.President Nazarbayev nominated Deputy Prime Minister Karim Masimov, Akhmetov's political rival, to succeed Akhmetov, on 9 January 2007.Nazarbayev's political party Nur Otan endorsed Massimov, but some analysts in Kazakhstan considered Zhaksybekov as a candidate.