Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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                    Azerbaijan Holds Parliamentary Elections

   by VOA News

   Parliamentary elections are being held Sunday in oil-rich Azerbaijan
   that have been marred by accusations of voting irregularities.

   Opposition parties are boycotting the vote, while international rights
   groups such as Amnesty have accused the government of jailing political
   opponents and imposing severe limits on opposition parties ability to
   campaign. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has
   said it will not send observers to monitor the election due to
   restrictions imposed by the government on its monitoring team.

   Over 700 candidates are competing for a seat the 125-seat parliament,
   which is expected to be won again by President Ilam Aliyev's ruling
   Yeni Azerbaijan part.

   The victory would further his grip on power since taking over after his
   father Heydar Aliyev's death in 2003. Azerbaijan's nine million people
   have enjoyed an increased standard of living thanks to the country's
   oil wealth under his watch.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/voting-begins-in-azerbaijan/3031740.h
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/voting-begins-in-azerbaijan/3031740.html