CEC chief: strong turnout

Central Election Commission head Levan Tarkhnishvili put voter turnout at 16 percent by noon today, up three or four percent from the same time period in the 2004 presidential election. Tarkhnishvili pointed out that this year's voter registration list is about a million names longer than in 2004, suggesting that we are seeing very strong turnout today.

Saakashvili and government officials have all called for a strong turnout today; if he wins, that would help seal his renewed mandate.

However, Hans Gutbrod of the Caucasus Research Resource Centers, who has been in Georgia for past elections, said he didn't think this represents a strong turnout so far.