Loser Disputes Presidential Vote

The losing presidential candidate pledged to fight what he called the rigged election of an American expatriate and said her quick swearing-in was a violation of the constitution. Desmond Hoyte accused elections commission Chairman Doodnauth Singh of violating the constitution by declaring Janet Jagan, widow of popular former President Cheddi Jagan, the winner while votes were still being counted, and without consulting other commission members. Meanwhile, the army chief of staff and the police commissioner denied that they advised the quick swearing-in to avoid “a declaration of a state of emergency,” as Singh said earlier.