AZERBAIJAN: Opposition supporters rally in Baku, demand re-run of last Sunday's parliamentary ballot

Record ID: 214648

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Opposition supporters rally in Baku, demand re-run of last Sunday's parliamentary ballot
  • Date: 14th November 2005
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (NOVEMBER 13, 2005) (REUTERS) OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS CARRYING POSTER CALLING TO END TYRANNY IN AZERBAIJAN, MARCHING DOWN STREET OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS CHANTING "RESIGNATION" WOMAN LOOKING FROM BALCONY VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS WITH FLAGS AND BANNERS RIOT POLICE PROTEST OPPOSITION SUPPORTER CHANTING "FREEDOM", WAVING ORANGE FLAG OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS HOLDING POSTER DEMANDING FAIR ELECTIONS CLOSE-UP OF WOMAN AND BOY RALLY IN PROGRESS OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS CARRYING GIANT AZERBAIJAN FLAG AND ORANGE FLAGS OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS WAVING ORANGE FLAGS / RIOT POLICE IN THE BACKGROUND
  • Embargoed: 29th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD1GOTEPIPEGU0SEAZEDSARAU2
  • Story Text: At least 25,000 opposition supporters gathered in central Baku on Sunday (November 13), a week after a parliamentary election, calling on President Ilham Aliyev to step down and demanding a re-run of the ballot. Protesters, chanting "Freedom! Resign!" and waving orange flags like those held by anti-government crowds during Ukraine's 2004 revolution, marched in orderly columns to Qelebe square as police looked on. The opposition was allowed to stage a rally for two hours, until 1700 local time (1300gmt). Police warned the protesters that they would not be allowed to remain in the square any longer. Members of three main opposition blocks - Azadlyq, New policy and National Unity - took part in the action. Sunday's election -- criticised by observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe -- handed a huge parliamentary majority to Aliyev's supporters, while the Azadlyq opposition block gained a mere handful of seats. Election officials bowed to the criticism and ordered re-runs in two disputed constituencies where Aliyev loyalists beat opposition candidates. They said they were looking at reports of fraud in several others. Analysts doubt that the opposition in the oil-rich south Caucasus country has enough support to overturn the election result and overthrow the establishment, as happened in Ukraine, but the protests will be a further test for Azerbaijan's leadership. Clashes between opposition protesters and police turned bloody after Aliyev's victory in a presidential poll in 2003.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register