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| Concerns raised over Georgia poll | Concerns raised over Georgia poll |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| International observers say Georgia's parliamentary elections, which look set to be won by the ruling party, were not fully satisfactory. | International observers say Georgia's parliamentary elections, which look set to be won by the ruling party, were not fully satisfactory. |
| The OSCE said the vote was an improvement from January's disputed presidential election, but was "uneven and incomplete". | The OSCE said the vote was an improvement from January's disputed presidential election, but was "uneven and incomplete". |
| Partial returns show that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement got 58% of the vote. | Partial returns show that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement got 58% of the vote. |
| The main opposition - far behind with 18% - accuses the government of fraud. | The main opposition - far behind with 18% - accuses the government of fraud. |
| The election is seen as a test of Mr Saakashvili's commitment to democracy, key to his aim of joining Nato. | The election is seen as a test of Mr Saakashvili's commitment to democracy, key to his aim of joining Nato. |
| 'Imperfect' | 'Imperfect' |
| The president visits a woman injured on polling day | The president visits a woman injured on polling day |
| "There were numerous allegations of intimidation, some of which could be verified," the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said in a report on the poll. | "There were numerous allegations of intimidation, some of which could be verified," the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said in a report on the poll. |
| "These elections were not perfect," said delegation head, Joao Soares. He added, however, that "concrete and substantial progress" had been made. | "These elections were not perfect," said delegation head, Joao Soares. He added, however, that "concrete and substantial progress" had been made. |
| Matyas Eorsi, head of the group of observers from the Council of Europe, said: "Despite improvements to the election environment these elections did not make full use of the democratic potential of Georgia." | |
| The BBC's Matthew Collin, in Tbilisi, says the government was probably hoping for a more positive verdict from observers to boost its bid for Nato membership. | The BBC's Matthew Collin, in Tbilisi, says the government was probably hoping for a more positive verdict from observers to boost its bid for Nato membership. |
| Even I was astonished by the big level of support which we got President Mikhail Saakashvili Democratic test for Georgia's leader | Even I was astonished by the big level of support which we got President Mikhail Saakashvili Democratic test for Georgia's leader |
| Returns from 75% of more than 3,500 polling precints gave Mr Saakashvili 58% of the vote by party list and the main United Opposition bloc 18%. | Returns from 75% of more than 3,500 polling precints gave Mr Saakashvili 58% of the vote by party list and the main United Opposition bloc 18%. |
| Two-thirds of the parliament's 150 seats are needed for a constitutional majority under Georgian law. | Two-thirds of the parliament's 150 seats are needed for a constitutional majority under Georgian law. |
| 'Astonished' | 'Astonished' |
| The partial results also suggested that as well as the two main parties, the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party would also win enough votes to take seats in parliament. | The partial results also suggested that as well as the two main parties, the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party would also win enough votes to take seats in parliament. |
| "Even I was astonished by the big level of support which we got in these parliamentary elections," Mr Saakashvili said in comments quoted by Reuters. | "Even I was astonished by the big level of support which we got in these parliamentary elections," Mr Saakashvili said in comments quoted by Reuters. |
| "There are no final figures yet but there is a very high probability that the National Movement will get the number of seats in parliament that would be close to a constitutional majority." | "There are no final figures yet but there is a very high probability that the National Movement will get the number of seats in parliament that would be close to a constitutional majority." |
| Soon after polls closed on Wednesday, leaders of the main opposition coalition said that the vote had been rigged. | Soon after polls closed on Wednesday, leaders of the main opposition coalition said that the vote had been rigged. |
| The opposition largely shares President Saakashvili's pro-Western leanings but say he has failed to tackle unemployment and corruption. | The opposition largely shares President Saakashvili's pro-Western leanings but say he has failed to tackle unemployment and corruption. |
| They are also angry about riot police being sent in to break up opposition protests last year and say the government has taken on authoritarian tendencies under President Saakashvili. | They are also angry about riot police being sent in to break up opposition protests last year and say the government has taken on authoritarian tendencies under President Saakashvili. |