EXTRA: Reports of election fraud in Paraguay

[Judi Lynn]

EXTRA: Reports of election fraud in Paraguay
Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:08:04 GMT

Asuncion, Paraguay - Election observers in Paraguay have accused the Partido Colorado, which has ruled the country since 1947, of election fraud in Sunday's presidential election, national media reported. Observers from the Organization of American States and the Paraguay section of the non-government organisation Transparency said that persons not on electoral rolls were allowed to vote, ballot papers were provided that already had the ruling party crossed in, personal IDs was "bought," and voters were escorted into voting booths by Colorado supporters.

The opposition and independent observers in the capital Asuncion in the past days had warned of possible fraud by the Partido Colorado.

Opinion polls showed that Colorado candidate Blanca Ovelar would run a neck-and-neck race with opposition former bishop Fernando Lugo. However, one poll said that the majority of voters assumed Ovelar would win.

"There is a prevailing mood of pessimism in the country, because everyone assumes election fraud," high school teacher Tomas Palau told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/200163,extra-reports-of-election-fraud-in-paraguay.html