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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Uzbek president wins third term | Uzbek president wins third term |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, has been declared the winner of Sunday's general election. | The President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, has been declared the winner of Sunday's general election. |
| He won 88.1% of the vote in a poll which foreign election monitors said failed to meet democratic standards. | He won 88.1% of the vote in a poll which foreign election monitors said failed to meet democratic standards. |
| Under the Uzbek constitution Mr Karimov has already had the maximum two terms in office. He has given no explanation as to why he was able to run again. | |
| He has allowed little opposition during his 17 years in power and banned all independent parties and media groups. | He has allowed little opposition during his 17 years in power and banned all independent parties and media groups. |
| Mr Karimov faced what was largely seen as token opposition in Sunday's election, from three virtually unknown candidates. | Mr Karimov faced what was largely seen as token opposition in Sunday's election, from three virtually unknown candidates. |
| The president himself barely campaigned, and all the other candidates praised his running of the economy. They did not explicitly ask Uzbeks to vote for them. | The president himself barely campaigned, and all the other candidates praised his running of the economy. They did not explicitly ask Uzbeks to vote for them. |
| All independent media groups and political parties are banned in Uzbekistan. | All independent media groups and political parties are banned in Uzbekistan. |
| 'Undemocratic' | 'Undemocratic' |
| The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the election had been "held in a strictly controlled political environment, leaving no room for real opposition". | The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the election had been "held in a strictly controlled political environment, leaving no room for real opposition". |
| OSCE said there was no real choice for voters in the elections | OSCE said there was no real choice for voters in the elections |
| "The election generally failed to meet many OSCE commitments for democratic elections," said a statement from the organisation. | "The election generally failed to meet many OSCE commitments for democratic elections," said a statement from the organisation. |
| The OSCE sent only a small team of observers to monitor the elections because they said the lack of opposition rendered a larger team pointless. | The OSCE sent only a small team of observers to monitor the elections because they said the lack of opposition rendered a larger team pointless. |
| The organisation also questioned the officially-stated turnout figure of 90.6%, saying their observers saw only a "small number of voters". | The organisation also questioned the officially-stated turnout figure of 90.6%, saying their observers saw only a "small number of voters". |
| This "raises further concerns regarding the accuracy of the reporting of results," it said. | This "raises further concerns regarding the accuracy of the reporting of results," it said. |
| Monitors from Russia, an Uzbek ally, and other CIS states said they had seen no evidence of vote-rigging. | Monitors from Russia, an Uzbek ally, and other CIS states said they had seen no evidence of vote-rigging. |
| Uzbekistan's land borders were closed during the polls and people reported an increased police presence in major cities. | Uzbekistan's land borders were closed during the polls and people reported an increased police presence in major cities. |
| Oppressive rule | Oppressive rule |
| Uzbeks resigned to KarimovA silenced society | Uzbeks resigned to KarimovA silenced society |
| Foreign media is not allowed inside Uzbekistan but the BBC's Natalia Antelava, reporting from nearby Krygyzstan, said that many people were afraid to vote for anyone other than the president. | Foreign media is not allowed inside Uzbekistan but the BBC's Natalia Antelava, reporting from nearby Krygyzstan, said that many people were afraid to vote for anyone other than the president. |
| Mr Karimov, who has ruled Uzbekistan since before independence in 1990, has received widespread international criticism for what is described as an oppressive leadership and for allegedly sanctioning human rights abuses. | Mr Karimov, who has ruled Uzbekistan since before independence in 1990, has received widespread international criticism for what is described as an oppressive leadership and for allegedly sanctioning human rights abuses. |
| In 2005, Mr Karimov ordered a crackdown on protesters in the city of Andijan which resulted in the deaths of several hundred people including women and children. | In 2005, Mr Karimov ordered a crackdown on protesters in the city of Andijan which resulted in the deaths of several hundred people including women and children. |
| Mr Karimov has insisted that the security forces killed only 189 Islamist militants. | Mr Karimov has insisted that the security forces killed only 189 Islamist militants. |