Fed: PM to await report on Nigerian election

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Fed: PM to await report on Nigerian election

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says Australia will await a report by Commonwealth electionobservers before passing judgment on whether Nigeria's recent election was free and fair.

Nigeria's President OLUSEGUN OBASANJO has won a landmark victory in an election observersand opposition parties say was tainted by ballot rigging and intimidation.

Mr HOWARD, the current chair of the 54-member Commonwealth, has met with CommonwealthSecretary-General DON MCKINNON in Canberra today to discuss the election and the ongoingproblems in Zimbabwe.

But he says it's wrong to compare the Nigerian poll to to the victory last year ofZimbabwe's president ROBERT MUGABE in an election judged to have been marred by widespreadvote-rigging.

AAP RTV rft/jg/smb/sco

KEYWORD: NIGERIA HOWARD (CANBERRA)