Macedonia vote peaceful, but could be better, say monitors

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

SKOPJE (AFP) — A partial re-run of Macedonian general elections at the weekend was free of violence but still tainted by "tensions and intimidation," international poll monitors said Monday.

Fresh balloting was held in mainly ethnic Albanian-populated areas of Macedonia on Sunday, two weeks after parliamentary elections there were marred by shootouts, disruption and ballot fraud.

"Despite the efforts made by state institutions to ensure successful re-runs, cases of tensions and intimidation remained evident in the run up to and on 15 June," the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the continent's elections watchdog, said in a statement.

"The secure and generally calmer atmosphere on the day of re-runs, only two weeks after violent incidents...