'No observers for Russian poll'
The OSCE said Friday that Moscow refused to issue visas to its international observers for next month's Russian parliamentary elections, and balloting would not be monitored. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Warsaw-based office, which organizes observer missions, said: "despite repeated attempts to attain entry visa into the Russian Federation for ... experts and observers, entry visas have continuously been denied." "It is with regret that ... it will be unable to deliver its mandate under these circumstances."