Russia invites more election monitors

MOSCOS, Russia, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Russia has invited another 75 international observers to monitor its parliamentary elections next month.

The additional personnel would be added to 55 observers invited earlier, the RIA Novosti news agency said Monday.

Konstantin Kosachev, head of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian Parliament), told reporters in Germany that three additional international monitoring organizations had been invited to send delegations of 25 people to Russia for the Dec. 2 vote.

The elections could have an effect on the makeup of the Duma, which is dominated by supporters of President Vladimir Putin's government. Some of the monitoring groups have complained that Moscow was delaying visas needed to get the observers in place in time for the voting.