Sergei Bagapsh re-elected president of break-away Abkhazia

Preliminary results from the first poll since Russia recognised Abkhazia as an independent state last year showed Mr Bagapsh had taken 59% of the vote.

The runner-up, Raul Khajimba, has complained of widespread fraud.

Georgia, which disputes Abkhazia's independence, has denounced the election as "illegitimate and amoral".

"Any election in Russian-occupied Abkhazia is illegitimate due to the fact that 80% of the pre-war population of Abkhazia has been driven out by two decades of ethnic cleansing," a statement said.

Since its brief war with Georgia last year over another disputed territory, South Ossetia, Russia has provided security for Abkhazia and about 60% of its budget.

/BBC/