Europe urges Russia election probe

By Mark John and David Brunnstrom

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe joined the United States on Monday in demanding Russia investigate alleged abuses in an election won overwhelmingly by President Vladimir Putin's party, and Germany denounced the poll as undemocratic.

European states expressed alarm over the outcome of Sunday's parliamentary poll after rights watchdogs said the campaign had been marred by biased media coverage and abuse of government resources in favor of Putin's United Russia.

But analysts said many European states now acknowledged that Moscow, whose cooperation the West wants over disputes from Iran to Kosovo, was increasingly impervious to outside criticism.

With almost all votes counted in the State Duma (lower house) election, Putin's United Russia had won 64.1 percent of votes -- nearly six times as many as his nearest rival.

"It is vital that the Russian Central Election Commission urgently investigates all allegations of electoral abuses," Britain's foreign ministry said, echoing a similar call from Washington on Sunday.

It expressed disappointment that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe had not been able to observe the election. The OSCE cancelled plans to monitor the poll after a row with Moscow over delays in issuing visas.

France expressed the hope that Moscow would "shed light" on the allegations of voting irregularities.

Sharper reaction came from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government, seen as less close to Putin than that of her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder.

"Measured by our standards, it was neither a free, fair nor democratic election," said spokesman Thomas Steg. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged Russia to probe abuses.

The Kremlin said the vote provided a ringing endorsement of Putin, who is now expected to try and hold onto the reins of power after his term ends next year. Critics accused authorities of ensuring victory was never in doubt.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer added his voice to concerns, but a spokesman for the 26-nation Western military alliance said NATO would continue a policy of post-Cold War engagement with Russia which has seen patchy results so far.

"BUSINESS AS USUAL"

Russian assets traded flat to weaker on Western markets as analysts said the extent of the victory was enough to ensure Putin manages a smooth political transition but not so strong as to alienate the West.

"The story is: it's business as usual in Russia. The key thing is Putin has the mandate he was looking for, a validation of any future role he may have," said Chris Green, senior economist at Russian bank VTB-Europe in London.

There was no immediate reaction from the European Union Presidency, but the EU commissioner responsible for ties between Brussels and Moscow said there had been clear abuses.