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Watchdog cancels Russia poll plan Watchdog cancels Russia poll plan
(30 minutes later)
International election watchdog, the OSCE, says it will not send monitors to Russia's parliamentary polls, because its staff had been denied entry visas. The international election watchdog, the OSCE, says it will not send monitors to Russian elections because its staff have been denied visas.
The body blamed "delays and restrictions" in securing permission to enter Russia for its decision. The body blamed its decision on "delays and restrictions" in securing permission to enter Russia.
The OSCE last month accused Moscow of placing "unprecedented curbs" on its mission to monitor the elections. The OSCE last month accused Moscow of placing "unprecedented curbs" on its bid to monitor the parliamentary polls.
Russia rejected the criticism. Parties loyal to President Vladimir Putin are expected to win the 2 December vote.Russia rejected the criticism. Parties loyal to President Vladimir Putin are expected to win the 2 December vote.
Russia played down the OSCE's latest announcement that it would cancel its mission.Russia played down the OSCE's latest announcement that it would cancel its mission.
Foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said the monitoring body "has the right to take any decision", Interfax news agency reports.Foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said the monitoring body "has the right to take any decision", Interfax news agency reports.
According to the BBC's Moscow correspondent, James Rodgers, the row with the OSCE looks set to deprive Russia of an assessment which many western governments see as determining whether or not elections are truly free and fair.
The OSCE's election monitoring wing said Russian entry visas for its experts and observers had "been continuously denied".The OSCE's election monitoring wing said Russian entry visas for its experts and observers had "been continuously denied".
A letter sent by the body to the Russian election commission said it "regretted" that "delays and restrictions" meant it "would be unable to deliver its mandate".A letter sent by the body to the Russian election commission said it "regretted" that "delays and restrictions" meant it "would be unable to deliver its mandate".
According to Reuters news agency, Russia's election chief earlier this week blamed the foreign observers for the delay in granting visas, saying they had taken too long to provide the necessary forms.According to Reuters news agency, Russia's election chief earlier this week blamed the foreign observers for the delay in granting visas, saying they had taken too long to provide the necessary forms.
Moscow last month sent a letter to the OSCE, saying it wanted limits on the size of the OSCE delegation. Washington 'concerned'
It also said it wanted to be consulted on the delegation's composition. Moscow last month sent a letter to the OSCE, saying it wanted to be consulted on the delegation's composition.
Moscow also asked for the delegation's size to be limited to 70 people - far short of the 465 sent to Russia's last parliamentary elections four years ago.
The US government said at the time that it was "concerned" by the apparent curbs placed on the OSCE mission.
The OSCE international security body often sends monitors to elections. Its 56 member states come from Europe, Central Asia and the US and Canada.
December's elections are expected to deliver victory to United Russia, the largest party loyal to President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Putin, who steps down as president next year, is popular among many Russians for his economic and foreign policies.
However, opposition groups and human rights activists have accused him of resurrecting Soviet-era authoritarianism.