Azeri opposition rejects vote result

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.

The main opposition coalition, Azadliq (Freedom), called for results to be annulled in four-fifths of Azerbaijan's 125 districts, while observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Sunday's vote failed to meet standards for democratic elections.

Head of the Musavat party, Isa Gambar, said: "The Azadliq bloc declares it does not recognise the results of the elections ... and it says it will have the strength to overturn the results and conduct new elections."