OSCE criticises Azerbaijan's poll

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Azerbaijan's presidential poll "marked considerable progress" but failed to fully meet the nation's "international commitments", European monitors say.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe noted "a lack of robust competition" and discourse in the media in Wednesday's poll.

Incumbent President Ilham Aliyev won nearly 90% of the vote, but the main opposition boycotted the election.

It said the poll was a farce - a claim denied by local electoral officials.

'Shortcomings'

OSCE monitors said the authorities in the oil-rich country had tried to create fair conditions for presidential candidates and voting was efficient.

But it said "shortcomings were observed on election day, in particular during the crucial phase of the vote count and tabulation".

It also pointed out that the vote "did not reflect all the principles of a meaningful, pluralistic, democratic election".

Five main opposition parties boycotted the poll.

They had accused the authorities of harassing President Aliyev's opponents, muzzling the media and also rigging previous polls.

Officials deny the allegations.

Some 400 OSCE observers monitored the poll in the energy-rich former Soviet republic.

The turnout in the country of 8.5 million people was 77%, electoral officials said.

Mr Aliyev succeeded his late father, Heydar, in the 2003 election.