Thousands of angry demonstrators crammed a square in Azerbaijan’s capital today to protest over alleged fraud in last weekend’s parliamentary elections, demonstrating the opposition’s peaceful intentions.

AZERBAIJAN’S opposition yesterday rejected the results of weekend parliamentary elections, calling them rigged and vowing to overturn the outcome of voting that foreign observers said fell short of international standards.

Azerbaijan’s ruling party looks likely to return to power, according to incomplete results today from an election that the opposition has branded fraudulent.

AZERBAIJANIS voted yesterday in a crucial parliamentary election they hoped would give them a voice in this oil-rich former Soviet republic that has been run by the same family for years, but the opposition alleged massive fraud that could taint the results.