The United States and the European Union have refused recognition of election results recently released in the breakaway Caucasus region of Abkhazia.

The US State Department said it did not recognize the legality of the result, which saw separatist leader Sergei Bagapsh win re-election in the region's first vote since it declared independence from Georgia following Tbilisi's brief war with Russia in August last year.

"The United States regrets the decision to hold 'elections' in the Abkhazia region of Georgia on December 12 and recognizes neither the legality nor the results," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement.

"The United States reiterates its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," Kelly said.

In a similar attack on the poll's legitimacy, the European Union said it "does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework within which these elections have taken place.

"The European Union continues to support Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as recognized by international law," added a statement by the EU presidency, which Sweden holds until the end of the year.

Limited support

The first official results, released by Abkahazia's election commission on Sunday, reported that Bagapsh had taken 59.4 percent of Saturday's vote and his main challenger Raul Khajimba had taken 15.4 percent. If these results are confirmed, Bagapsh would win the vote outright, without the need for a run-off.

The final results are expected to be released later this week, though Khajimba told the AFP news agency he would contest them.

"There were irregularities at every polling station," he said. "I will submit a complaint to the Central Election Commission and will also go to court."

Bagapsh, meanwhile, vowed to strengthen relations with Moscow, and expressed hope that the two could realize a number of joint economic initiatives, including a possible gas pipeline that would run under the Black Sea from Russia to Abkahazia.

Only Nicaragua and Venezuela have joined Russia in recognizing Abkhazia's independence declaration.

dfm/AFP/AP
Editor: Chuck Penfold