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Kyrgyzstan OKs constitution after ethnic unrest
International observers are praising the constitutional referendum in Kyrgyzstan as a remarkably peaceful and largely transparent process, despite the climate of fear created by recent ethnic violence.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said in a statement Monday that Sunday's vote, in which the public overwhelmingly backed the interim government, did have some procedural shortcomings.
Boris Frlec, head of the observation mission, said, however, "the provisional government... should be commended for organizing a remarkably peaceful process" and that the referendum was "largely transparent."
The referendum is an important step on the road to democracy for the interim government, which came to power after a bloody uprising in April.
Source: Associated Press