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Monitors hail Georgian election Monitors hail Georgian election
(40 minutes later)
A snap presidential election in the ex- Soviet republic of Georgia was broadly democratic, though it had shortcomings, international observers say. A snap presidential election in the ex- Soviet republic of Georgia was broadly democratic, though it had shortcomings, foreign observers say.
The OSCE said the poll was consistent with most international democratic standards, but significant challenges needed to be addressed. The OSCE mission said the poll had been consistent with most international democratic standards, but significant challenges needed to be addressed.
Exit polls suggest President Mikhail Saakashvili won, but it is unclear if he did well enough to avoid a run-off. Early results suggest President Mikhail Saakashvili won, but it is unclear if he did well enough to avoid a run-off.
Thousands of opposition protesters have gathered, alleging vote-rigging.Thousands of opposition protesters have gathered, alleging vote-rigging.
"We are not going to let him (President Saakashvili) steal the election," one opposition leader told the BBC."We are not going to let him (President Saakashvili) steal the election," one opposition leader told the BBC.
The vote was seen as a democratic test for Georgia, after recent opposition protests were suppressed. HAVE YOUR SAY I have voted for the future, for democracy. There is a great change in Georgia and I support all of it Otto, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4011&edition=1">Send us your comments
Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze - the most prominent of the five other presidential candidates - told the crowd in Tbilisi: "We face terror.
"We will defend our vote by legal means."
But the head of the observer mission, US Congressman Alcee Hastings of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), said: "I perceive this election as a valid expression of the choice of the Georgian people."
Saakashvili supporters had been celebrating since the release of exit polls suggesting a win for him.
President Saakashvili is hoping to avoid a run-offThe authorities have denied allegations of fraud.
Mr Saakashvili called the early election in an attempt to prove his democratic credentials after huge opposition protests were suppressed in November.
Georgians were also asked to vote on whether they should have a parliamentary election in the coming months, and whether the country should join Nato.Georgians were also asked to vote on whether they should have a parliamentary election in the coming months, and whether the country should join Nato.
Mr Saakashvili, a US-educated lawyer, came to power after street protests in 2003, dubbed the Rose Revolution.
His term as president has seen Georgia strengthen its ties with Nato and the European Union.
But relations with Moscow have soured and Georgia's economy has been badly hit by a Russian ban on Georgian goods.