Excerpts from report in English by Russian news agency Interfax

Vilnius, 5th January: Lawyer Arturas Paulauskas, who lost the presidential elections in Lithuania, said at a press conference on Monday [5th January] that, according to his sources, the vote-counting procedure had been violated and that he would insist on recounting the results of voting.

"The race was dramatic and the gap between the presidential candidates was very narrow. Given this, it is extremely important to count votes correctly," Paulauskas said.

He said in many countries election results are recounted if the margin is very narrow.

Paulauskas: seeks recount

Paulauskas, 44, expressed doubt that the Central Election Commission will do so. He said, however, that his staff will insist on recounting in suspected electoral districts...

James Coomarasamy reports from Vilnius

The Paulauskas campaign staff reported that violations were registered in the Kaunas District and in some Districts of western Lithuania. Paulauskas added, however, that the presidential elections marked a new stage in the development of the state and of democracy in general.

Lithuanian voters, he said, have demonstrated that they do care who will lead Lithuania. He said he had not yet made up his mind what he would do after the elections. He said, however, that he had firmly decided to run for president during the next presidential elections.

Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1348 gmt 5 Jan 98

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