Serbia Against Violence calls for European probe into electoral irregularities

BELGRADE - In a letter to European institutions, the opposition Serbia Against Violence coalition has requested a "full international investigation into electoral irregularities" in Serbia and called on the institutions not to recognise the results of the parliamentary, provincial and, especially, local elections, until such an investigation was over.

It said the probe should be conducted under the auspices of OSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Commission, with special emphasis on the elections for the City of Belgrade assembly.

It said an independent report on the probe should be submitted by February 15 and that repeat local elections in Belgrade should be held simultaneously with the upcoming regular local elections.

The letter, seen by Tanjug, includes evidence and examples of alleged abuses before the elections, on election day and after the closure of polling stations.

In a statement, Serbian Dveri Movement leader Bosko Obradovic said a call for annulment and a repeat of elections at all levels was the only right opposition request.

He proposed that all opposition MPs jointly submit such a request to the Constitutional Court and that repeat elections be held in May, simultaneously with regular local elections in the remaining municipalities and cities.

He said the National Gathering coalition - formed by Dveri and the Serbian Oathkeepers Party - had cleared the threshold in the parliamentary elections and was close to doing so in the Belgrade local elections.