Azerbaijan's Ruling Party Declared Winner In Autonomous Exclave

(RFE/RL) 9 November 2005 -- Election authorities in Azerbaijan's autonomous exclave have validated the results of the 6 November regional legislative elections.
The Turan news agency quoted the head of the Nakhichevan Central Election Commission, Maharram Aliyev, as saying the ruling Yeni Azerbaycan (New Azerbaijan) party won 37 of the 45 seats in the regional legislature. Independent candidates came in second with six seats, followed by the opposition Popular Front of Azerbaijan (AXCP). Some 145 candidates took part in the regional polls.

Voters in Nakhichevan also elected their representatives to Azerbaijan's Milli Meclis, or national parliament.

Citing allegations of fraud, the AXCP and its partners in the Azadliq (Freedom) opposition bloc are demanding that results of the 6 November national elections be nullified. It called for its supporters to take to the streets of Baku today.

Azerbaijan's election authorities have annulled election results in two of the country's 125 constituencies. But they have rejected allegations of massive fraud.

(Turan)

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