US elections mostly fair say observers

Voting in this week's US elections was mostly fair, but the lines were too long at some polling stations, says an international group monitoring them for first time.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said yesterday that before the vote it had received "widespread" allegations of fraud and voter suppression, mainly among minorities, and raised concern that confidence in the system could be undermined.

However, it was unable to substantiate the allegations. It said that on election day it observed relatively few attempts to challenge a voter's eligibility, despite concerns before the vote.

Europe's top rights watchdog, which groups 55 countries, including the United States, said the election "mostly met" international standards for free and fair elections.

Invited by the United States after disputes in the 2000 election spawned legal battles in Florida, the OSCE sent about 90 monitors to the country this year for its first full observation of a US presidential election.

President George W. Bush beat Democratic Senator John Kerry in a tight race on Wednesday with a record turnout.

In Ohio, which decided the winner when Bush captured its 20 electoral college votes, many people stood in line for two hours or more, and some polling stations had to remain open hours after they planned to close.

"Significant delays at the polling station are likely to deter some voters and may restrict the right to vote," the OSCE said in its preliminary report.

"While a solution to this problem may have cost implications, it is clearly desirable that steps are taken to reduce delays in future elections."

- REUTERS