South Ossetians elect new parliament, results Monday (Roundup)

May 31, 2009, 15:16 GMT

Moscow - The breakaway former-Georgian republic of South Ossetia held elections Sunday for a new parliament, with preliminary results in the poll contested by four parties expected on Monday.

The single-day vote, coming some 10 months after the summer 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over the region, went smoothly, with an election commission spokesman saying that well over the required 50 per cent of voters turned out.

Four parties are competing for seats in the 34-member South Ossetian assembly, for which some 52,000 people are registered to vote.

Parties must cross a threshold of seven per cent of the vote in order to enter the parliament. Opponents of pro-Russian South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity have complained of severe obstacles being placed in front of them during the election campaign.

South Ossetia and neighbouring republic Abkhazia declared themselves independent, with Moscow's support, following the war in August 2008.

During the former Soviet era, South Ossetia was enjoyed autonomy with regard to its language and education.