Azeri referendum

Azeris recorded a heavy turn-out yesterday in a referendum on their fugitive President, Abulfez Elcibey, a poll seen by diplomats as a way of formalising his effective removal from power after an armed rebellion in June, Reuter reports from Baku. By mid-afternoon, 81.5 per cent of Azerbaijan's 4 million voters had taken part. Final results are expected tomorrow.