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, emboldened by international criticism of the parliamentary vote and the government decision to annul the count in two districts, prepared for a massive protest rally tomorrow that it hopes will give it irreversible momentum.

Pope John Paul arrived today in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan for a short visit - the pontiff’s first trip since his 82nd birthday.