Cautious Welcome for New Russian Leader

(03 Mar 08 RV) Western observers of Russia's presidential election said today that the poll reflected the will of the people, but the candidates' unequal access to the media called into question the overall fairness of the vote. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, or PACE, said the inability of liberal opposition candidates to get their names on the ballot also made the election less than free. Dmitry Medvedev's victory the election was greeted cautiously across Europe as leaders said they hoped he could mend relations damaged during Vladimir Putin's presidency. British Member of Parliament and a member of PACE currently in Russia is Nigel Evans. He says the new President needs to ensure the transparency of future elections...