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EU Team Says Burundi Poll Meets International Standards


European Union observers say this week's local elections in Burundi met international standards.

The head of the EU's observer mission, Renate Weber, told reporters Thursday that in 95 percent of polling stations, EU observers rated the voting system as good or very good.

He said EU observers visited a total of 189 polling stations during voting Monday.

Eight Burundian opposition parties have demanded a re-run of the vote, saying it was tainted by massive fraud.

An opposition spokesman said Wednesday some people cast multiple votes. He also said some ballot boxes were switched.

Provisional results from Burundi's electoral commission show the ruling party winning most of the 129 constituencies.

Monday's elections were the first in a series of polls seen as a test of stability for the central African nation.

The elections cap a five-year transition to democracy, started by peace agreements that ended Burundi's civil war in 2005.

The country is next scheduled to hold a presidential election on June 28. President and former rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza is running for a second term.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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