( dpa )- The European Union Commission on Tuesday called on parties in Georgia's recent elections to respect the official results, adding that any irregularities should to be addressed "without delay."
Foreign Policy Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner in a statement largely supported Saturday's elections, saying that "the preliminary findings of the International Elections Observation Mission confirm that the electoral process was overall in line" with international standards.
Ferrero-Waldner called on the Georgian authorities to investigate "speedily and thoroughly" any complaints, while urging the opposition to "use only peaceful and legal means to express any complaint."
Georgia's opposition leader Levan Ganchechiladze vowed Tuesday to continue protests over the narrow victory of President Mikhail Saakashvili in what the opposition claim were fraudulent elections.
European election observers gave the elections a clean bill of health, which was corroborated by the United States, while Russia which opposes Western influence in Georgia and has imposed economic sanctions on the nation, sharply criticized the vote.