A day after parliamentary elections delivered steep losses to United Russia,the party led by Prime Minister Vladimir V Putin,Western monitors said the vote was marred by limited political competition,ballot box stuffing,and use of government resources for the partys benefit. The monitoring branch of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the voting process deteriorated seriously during the vote count late Sunday. With 95 per cent of the votes processed,United Russia led with a shade under 50 per cent,trailed by the Communists with 19 per cent,Just Russia with 13 per cent and the Liberal Democrats with nearly 12 per cent,according to the Central Election Commission. Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini,who headed the mission of the OSCEs Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights,compared the polls to a game in which only some players are allowed on the pitch,and then the field is tilted in favour of one. Meanwhile,thousands protested against Putin and his party in Moscow. Estimates suggested about 10,000 people marched toward Central Elections Commission near Kremlin,but were stopped by riot police and some were taken away.DAVID M HERSZENHORN & ELLEN BARRY
