Observers criticize irregularities on election day скачать в хорошем качестве

Observers criticize irregularities on election day

(31 Oct 2011) 1. Wide of news conference as speakers and journalists take their places 2. Mid of journalists 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Walburga Habsburg Douglas, OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Parliamentary Assembly representative: "Unfortunately, by the evening we saw significant problems with the counting and tabulation. Today despite flaws with the voters' lists and the tabulation processes we are cautiously optimistic about the future of democracy in Kyrgyzstan." 4. Cutaway of journalists 5. Close up of OSCE statement 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Corien Jonker, Head of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights: "I would like to stress that we had hoped for a better election. It is disappointing that the problems on election day meant that this election did not live up to the democratic promise resulting from the adoption of the new constitution last year." 7. Wide of news conference from back of room 8. News conference ending STORYLINE International observers commended Kyrgyzstan on Monday for holding its presidential election this weekend in a peaceful manner, but urged authorities to adopt measures to improve electoral processes in the future. Front-runner Almazbek Atambayev claimed victory on Monday after a preliminary count showed him winning over 60 percent of votes in Sunday's election. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's election-monitoring arm positively assessed the inclusive candidate registration process and the wide choice of candidates on offer. But election observers said action was needed to improve the vote-counting system. "Unfortunately, by the evening we saw significant problems with the counting and tabulation," said OSCE Parliamentary Assembly representative Walburga Habsburg Douglas. A major issue on the day was the large quantity of voters whose names could not be found on party lists, an issue that has been sharply criticised by Atambayev's rival candidates. Corien Jonker, head of the election observation mission of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said that avoiding the voter list issue could potentially have ensured a greater turnout than the 60 percent reported by Kyrgyz electoral officials. The OSCE report also noted cases ballot box stuffing, multiple and family voting, vote-buying, and bussing of voters. Kyrgyzstan earned international plaudits last year for holding a parliamentary election that was deemed to be the first ever fair and free contest in the ex-Soviet Central Asian nation's history. That election was the first step on the country's tentative path toward developing into a more accountable parliamentary model as enshrined in a new constitution adopted last year. While observers would not be drawn on whether the presidential election marked a backward trend, the OSCE clearly indicated it felt that Kyrgyz authorities could have performed better. "I would like to stress that we had hoped for a better election. It is disappointing that the problems on election day meant that this election did not live up to the democratic promise resulting from the adoption of the new constitution," Jonker said. Although there is limited evidence of mass fraud having taken place, defeated candidates have expressed their determination to dispute the result. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...