WASHINGTON, March 14 (UPI) -- Significant irregularities have been committed during municipal elections in Macedonia, the U.S. State Department reported Monday.
Macedonia, a republic in the Balkans, held its first municipal elections Saturday with more than 25 U.S. observers monitoring the elections.
"The first round of municipal elections was conducted largely in accordance with international standards in most of the country. However, there were significant irregularities in some particular areas," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told a briefing in Washington.
"We call on Macedonian authorities to investigate and prosecute any breaches of law (that occurred) during the polling and before the second round of polling is held March 27."
Since 2000, the United States has funded significant technical assistance to Macedonia's State Election Commission to promote electoral reform, improve election operations, provide poll worker training, and support voter education.
