Outgoing Abkhaz Leader to Meet with Presidential Candidates

Outgoing President of the unrecognized Abkhazian Republic Vladislav Ardzinba will meet the chief of the Central Election Commission and the presidential candidates on October 6, following growing tensions in the breakaway region in the wake of the presidential elections, which were held on Sunday.

The election commission delayed the announcement of the election results, which triggered a protest by the main opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh, who apparently claimed victory in the elections. While another main candidate Raul Khajimba, backed by Vladislav Ardzinba, says that elections were marred by widespread fraud.

The RIA Novosti news agency reports quoting the Abkhaz de facto President?s spokesman Roin Agrba as saying that the opposition forces ?have mounted unprecedented pressure on the Central Election Commission.?

Reports say that several hundred of people are rallying outside the election commission demanding the unveiling of the election results.

However, electoral officials say that the vote count has been delayed because of procedural violations in the Gali District, in the eastern part of Abkhazia. This region is predominantly populated by ethnic Georgians.

Raul Khajimba demanded on October 5 that the election results be cancelled because of numerous violations during the October 3 elections, especially in the Gali District. Opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh, who has a Georgian wife, is expected to garner a majority of the votes in the Gali District.

Sergey Bagapsh has reportedly proposed holding of repeat elections in Gali District in order ?to avoid escalation of tensions.?