Azerbaijan to re-run controversial vote

The Azeri government says there is to be a partial re-run of parliamentary elections early next January.

The decision to hold a re-vote in eleven constituencies follows reports of widespread irregularities during November's parliamentary vote.

But as he announced the move, a senior official , Ali Gasanov, warned the opposition to stop its boycott of the newly-elected assembly.

The November elections, which gave an overwhelming majority to the governing New Azerbaijan party, were strongly criticised by international bodies.

The Council of Europe has postponed its decision to admit Azerbaijan as a full member until after the re-vote. Mr Gasanov said the opposition's boycott could play into the hands of what he called pro-Armenian or Christian factions within the Council.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service