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Monitors hail Georgian election Monitors hail Georgian election
(10 minutes later)
A snap presidential election in the ex- Soviet republic of Georgia was broadly democratic, though it had shortcomings, foreign 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 mission said the poll had been 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.
Early results 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.
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 href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/europe_georgian_voters_/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/europe_georgian_voters_/html/1.stm', '1199531548', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Georgians in Tbilisi talk about their voting intentions href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/europe_georgian_voters_/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/europe_georgian_voters_/html/1.stm', '1199531548', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze - the most prominent of the five other presidential candidates - told the crowd in Tbilisi: "We face terror.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.""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." But opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze said the exit polls had been "falsified".
They suggested President Saakashvili won more than 53% of the vote and Mr Gachechiladze 28%.
Official results are expected later on Sunday.
Celebrations
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."
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 Send us your comments
Saakashvili supporters had been celebrating since the release of exit polls suggesting a win for him.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. The 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.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.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.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.But relations with Moscow have soured and Georgia's economy has been badly hit by a Russian ban on Georgian goods.