Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 15:00
AFP News Briefs ListGeorgia elections marred by 'problems': OSCE observers
Georgia's parliamentary elections were marred by "a number of problems," observers from the Organisation for Security and Coooperation in Europe said in a statement on Thursday.
"Political stakeholders... made efforts to conduct yesterday's parliamentary election in line with international standards but a number of problems were identified which made their implementation uneven and incomplete."
The statement also said there had been "numerous allegations" of intimidation during the campaign, pressure put on observers on election day and "significant procedural shortcomings" during the counting.
President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement looked set to win a landslide victory in the vote, according to early results. Opposition parties have charged that the vote was rigged and have vowed street protests.
Saakashvili has claimed victory and said the vote was "free and fair."
