Police disperse unauthorised public meeting

Police intercepted an attempt of the opposition to hold an unauthorised public meeting in the centre of Baku on 18 December which would demand that the results of the recent parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. The action did not take place though, Mr Magerram Aliyev, chief of the Baku Main Police Department, told local media in an interview.

Several dozen people came to a square near the centre of Baku to protest against the results of the parliamentary elections.

Small groups of participants crying out slogans "Freedom!", "Free elections!", and "Resign!" were told to go away and next driven away by the police without the use of brute force, RIA Novosti reports.

Up to 20 supporters of the opposition bloc Azadlyg ("Freedom") were detained, according to sources with the bloc which initiated the public meeting. No official detainee figures are given.

Earlier, the Baku government had denied the opposition authorisation to hold a public meeting in the Gelebe Square, but allowed it to hold its action on a site outside the city. Meanwhile, an a conversation with Caucasian Knot's correspondent, Mr Gasan Kerimov, Deputy Chairman of the People's Front of Azerbaijan Party, said that the opposition would hold its public meeting scheduled for 18 December in spite of the denial of the city government.

• Minister keeps his word, so far