Kyrgyz opposition to protest the results of presidential election

26 Jul, 2009 21:15 / Updated 15 years ago

European monitors and opposition members say Kyrgyzstan's presidential election this week was rigged. Incumbent leader Kurmanbek Bakiev was announced the winner with more than 80% of the votes.

The election registered a massive 80% turnout.

The opposition has produced footage from mobile phones which they claim shows voting irregularities, and they are promising to hold street demonstrations in protest.

Observers from the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe reported ballot box stuffing and vote-counting problems. However, monitors from the Commonwealth of Independent States, a group of former Soviet republics, say the election was open and free.