We are yet to make our election report

SIR – The Commonwealth Observer Group has noted your photo with the headline “Commonwealth team okays polls” in The New Vision of Monday, February 27. I have been asked by the Group to inform you that it is factually inaccurate and to seek a clarification. The Interim Statement issued by HE Sir Ketumile Masire, Chairperson of the Group, on February 24, 2006, commented only on what we had observed on Election Day itself, and that part of the results process we had observed to that point – essentially the counting of votes. It did not include an assessment of the entire voting and results phase, still less of all the other factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole. This was made clear in the Interim Statement. The Statement specifically did not include any assessment of whether the elections were “free and fair”. Our assessment of the entire process is being considered by the Group now, as we begin to prepare our report.
Thank you.

Betty Mould-Iddrisu Head, Secretariat Support Team Commonwealth Observer Group

Ed: We apologise for the error which inadvertently appeared in a photo caption and headline, as opposed to an actual news story.