From: MSN Nicknamepsychoteddybear24 (Original Message) Sent: 3/1/2007 9:27 AM
ABKHAZIA POLL PASSIONS RISE
All sides want independence from Georgia, but have their differences over
domestic policy.
By Inal Khashig in Sukhum
In the final week before parliamentary elections take place in Abkhazia, tempers
have boiled over, with the opposition demanding a public apology from the leader
of the breakaway republic Sergei Bagapsh.
On February 26, 19 opposition candidates for the March 4 poll called a press
conference in which they accused Bagapsh of gross interference in the electoral
process and trying to discredit members of the opposition.
They were responding to a television appearance by Bagapsh the day before in
which he was responding to questions sent into the studio and criticised
opposition politicians.
Abkhazia's parliamentary elections are not recognised by the international
community that still regards the region as being de jure part of Georgia, from
which it broke away ...
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