RFE/RL 31 October 2011 Kyrgyzstan's former prime minister, Almazbek Atambaev, is poised to become president after winning by a sizeable margin in the October 30 election. There were doubts that Atambaev could clear the 50-percent hurdle needed to claim an outright victory and prevent the country from heading into a combative second round. But in the end, he appeared to succeed handily, winning nearly 63 percent of the vote. Central Election

Washington Post 31 October 2011 The front-runner in Kyrgyzstan's presidential election claimed victory Monday after preliminary results showed he had garnered an overwhelming share of votes, but opponents cried foul and refused to concede defeat. Campaigners for Almazbek Atambayev said he secured broad support across the former Soviet Central Asian nation, showing that fears of the election exposing interregional tensions were unfounded. His

Washington Post 31 October 2011 The front-runner in Kyrgyzstan's presidential election claimed victory Monday after preliminary results showed he had garnered an overwhelming share of votes, but opponents cried foul and refused to concede defeat. Campaigners for Almazbek Atambayev said he secured broad support across the former Soviet Central Asian nation, showing that fears of the election exposing interregional tensions were unfounded. His

Walburga Habsburg Douglas talks to the head of a polling station in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 30 October 2011. BISHKEK, 31 October 2011 - The presidential election in Kyrgyzstan was conducted in a peaceful manner, but shortcomings underscored that the integrity of the electoral process should be improved to consolidate democratic practice in line with international commitments, international observers concluded in a statement issued today. The

Walburga Habsburg Douglas talks to the head of a polling station in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 30 October 2011. BISHKEK, 31 October 2011 - The presidential election in Kyrgyzstan was conducted in a peaceful manner, but shortcomings underscored that the integrity of the electoral process should be improved to consolidate democratic practice in line with international commitments, international observers concluded in a statement issued today. The

COPENHAGEN, 28 October 2011 — Riccardo Migliori, who led the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's election observation mission to Tunisia last week, made the following statement today regarding news of post-election violence in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid. "I am very concerned about the news of violence coming from Sidi Bouzid, a city I visited last Sunday together with OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver to observe the election and where I