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Tajik president wins third term Tajik president wins third term
(9 minutes later)
Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov has won a third term in office, in an election which international observers say was neither free nor fair.Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov has won a third term in office, in an election which international observers say was neither free nor fair.
The election commission said Mr Rakhmonov won more than 76% of the vote, with his closest rival winning just 7%.The election commission said Mr Rakhmonov won more than 76% of the vote, with his closest rival winning just 7%.
The country's three main opposition parties had either boycotted the vote or refused to field candidates.The country's three main opposition parties had either boycotted the vote or refused to field candidates.
But Mr Rahhmonov has rebuffed the criticism over the poll. But Mr Rahhmonov has rebuffed criticism over the poll.
He told reporters on Monday that his country had a completely different culture to that of the West, and said this difference had to be taken into account.He told reporters on Monday that his country had a completely different culture to that of the West, and said this difference had to be taken into account.
"But we are developing," he said. "We have started this process, and naturally it is not without problems.""But we are developing," he said. "We have started this process, and naturally it is not without problems."
Mr Rakhmonov's win was largely considered a foregone conclusion.Mr Rakhmonov's win was largely considered a foregone conclusion.
No opponents directly criticised the 54-year-old leader during campaigning, fuelling suspicions that at least some of them were chosen by the authorities. Emomali Rakhmonov's presence looms large in TajikstanNo opponents directly criticised the 54-year-old leader during campaigning, fuelling suspicions that at least some of them were chosen by the authorities.
Western observers told Reuters news agency that they had noted a number of irregularities in Monday's poll, including ballot stuffing and identical signatures on some ballot papers.Western observers told Reuters news agency that they had noted a number of irregularities in Monday's poll, including ballot stuffing and identical signatures on some ballot papers.
Different sources have given Mr Rakhmonov between 76% and 79% of the vote - which is down from the previous election in 1999, when he won 96% of the vote.Different sources have given Mr Rakhmonov between 76% and 79% of the vote - which is down from the previous election in 1999, when he won 96% of the vote.
"The results were probably falsified to show progress for democracy," a Western diplomat told Reuters."The results were probably falsified to show progress for democracy," a Western diplomat told Reuters.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe is due to give its assessment of the election later on Tuesday.The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe is due to give its assessment of the election later on Tuesday.
Widespread supportWidespread support
Mr Rakhmonov is a former communist official who has been Tajikistan's head of state for the last 14 years.Mr Rakhmonov is a former communist official who has been Tajikistan's head of state for the last 14 years.
He is known for his hardline policies, and has already courted controversy by changing the constitution, theoretically allowing him to stay in power until 2020.He is known for his hardline policies, and has already courted controversy by changing the constitution, theoretically allowing him to stay in power until 2020.
But despite this, he undeniably retains a lot of public support.But despite this, he undeniably retains a lot of public support.
Tajikistan is still very poor, but many people remain thankful they no longer have to face the civil war of the 1990s, which killed more than 50,000 and caused more than 10% of the population to flee the country.Tajikistan is still very poor, but many people remain thankful they no longer have to face the civil war of the 1990s, which killed more than 50,000 and caused more than 10% of the population to flee the country.
"Rakhmonov has done so much to make things better," said 43-year-old fruit seller Sakhobat before the poll."Rakhmonov has done so much to make things better," said 43-year-old fruit seller Sakhobat before the poll.
"We had a war here and it ruined everything," she told the Associated Press. "We're still poor, but if you want to work, you can find something to do.""We had a war here and it ruined everything," she told the Associated Press. "We're still poor, but if you want to work, you can find something to do."