International

Azeri police on Tuesday detained more than 20 opposition and independent candidates protesting against snap parliamentary election results that were also criticised by international observers.

Protesters wrapped in blankets were sitting on the pavement outside Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) building when riot police detained all participants and put them on buses.

Police officials were not available to comment.

According to the CEC the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) party won 70 out of 125 seats in the single-chamber parliament, with nearly all other seats going to small parties and independents loyal to President Ilham Aliyev.