Referendum Approved; Fraud Charges Fly
AZERBAIJAN
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Azerbaijanis overwhelmingly approved changes to the constitution, officials said, in a vote the opposition charged was marred by fraud.
Each of the amendments proposed in Saturday’s referendum had the support of more than 96% of the voters with 83% of the ballots counted, said Igbal Babayev, director of the country’s vote-counting system.
President Heydar A. Aliyev said the changes, which would alter the way the parliament and president are elected, would bring the constitution up to Western standards. Opposition groups boycotted the vote and accused authorities of fraud.
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