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Azerbaijan's President claims poll victory

Baku: Azerbaijan's ruling party claimed victory in parliamentary elections on Sunday night, but Opposition activists alleged widespread fraud and promised to take to the streets on Monday. Asked if the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party would retain its 75 seats in the 125-seat Parliament, its secretary, Ali Ahmedov, told reporters: ``Our information is that, yes, at the very least we have achieved that target.''

The claim of victory came after a polling day marred with repeated accusations of fraud in the most important election in the history of this impoverished but oil-rich Caspian state.

Strategic location

Western countries, attracted by the oil, gas, and strategic location between Iran and Russia, have urged the authoritarian President, Ilham Aliev, to reform. Casting his vote on Sunday, he told local media: ``After the elections, democratic reform will continue and Azerbaijan will develop further, ultimately evolving into a strong state.''

He said the 2,000 candidates registered as candidates for 125 parliamentary seats showed ``the nation believes in democratic elections''.

Hopes were high that the vote might improve the democratic record of an awkward ally of the west. A European diplomat said the vote had ``gone as predicted'' but wanted to wait for international observers, headed by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to report on Monday.

A source close to the OSCE said the day's violations ``did not look good'' but that much would depend on how the votes were counted. Opposition workers said that they had witnessed widespread fraud, the theft of ballot boxes, and police intimidation.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

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