Biogen officials call recess of contested meeting

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 3 (Reuters) - Officials of giant biotech company Biogen Idec Inc (BIIB.O) called a recess on Wednesday to their annual meeting, at which shareholders are voting on a slate of directors nominated by activist investor Carl Icahn.

Alexander Denner, managing director of Icahn Partners, objected to the maneuver. Icahn representatives said they believed the move signaled their slate had won sufficient votes to be elected.

"This is not North Korea," Denner called out after Bruce Ross, Biogen's chairman called the recess.

Ross said the recess would last until 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (1800 GMT). (Reporting by Scott Malone, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)