BRUSSELS, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- International observers say the recent election in Azerbaijan came up short on democratic standards, leading NATO to seek an inquiry into the voting.
NATO joined the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which Monday cited problems with Sunday's voting in Azerbaijan. The European Union and the United States also had questions about the election.
"Shortcomings in the election process should be thoroughly and urgently investigated and corrective measures should be taken," NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Tuesday.
An EU group that monitored the voting said, however, it was more fair than the Azerbaijani presidential election in 2003.
Vote totals released by the government indicate the ruling New Azerbaijan Party had taken 63 of the 125 seats in the national legislature. The main opposition party won just five seats and was planning demonstrations to protest the stated election outcome.
