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Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Save Email Print Reprints Most Popular Most Shared WRAPUP 4-BP fails to plug oil well with 'top kill' 29 May 2010 WRAPUP 1-Gulf residents eye slow fix for historic oil spill 1:05am EDT Israel rejects call to join anti-nuclear treaty 29 May 2010 Hollywood hellraiser Dennis Hopper dead at 74 | Video 29 May 2010 Gulf residents eye slow fix for historic oil spill | Video 1:08am EDT BP well disaster stuns hardened oil men 27 May 2010 Bankruptcy talk spreads among Calif. muni officials 27 May 2010 Business Books: Why Russia and China will eat your lunch 28 May 2010 Berkshire confirms Buffett subpoenaed to testify 28 May 2010 Suspected drug gangs dismember Mexico prison warden 29 May 2010 Israel rejects call to join anti-nuclear treaty 29 May 2010 Gulf residents eye slow fix for historic oil spill | Video 1:08am EDT Bankruptcy talk spreads among Calif. muni officials 27 May 2010 WRAPUP 1-Gulf residents eye slow fix for historic oil spill 1:05am EDT U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade 14 Oct 2009 Hollywood hellraiser Dennis Hopper dead at 74 | Video 29 May 2010 Business Books: Why Russia and China will eat your lunch 28 May 2010 WRAPUP 4-BP fails to plug oil well with 'top kill' 29 May 2010 Kitten survives wash and spin in a washing machine 27 May 2010 NBA-Lakers reach finals with Game Six win over Suns 29 May 2010 Georgia leader seen passing first post-war vote test Margarita Antidze TBILISI Sun May 30, 2010 12:44am EDT A man walks past election posters in Tbilisi May 27, 2010. Credit: Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is expected to pass his first electoral test since a 2008 war with Russia on Sunday, aided by a fragmented opposition that has struggled to capitalize on public anger over his rule. World | Russia The municipal vote, including the first election for mayor of the capital Tbilisi, is also being seen as an early test for potential successors to Saakashvili, who is due to step down in 2013 after a decade in power. Relations with former Soviet master Russia remain fraught, with some opposition leaders calling for closer ties in the hope of ending a Russian embargo on Georgian wine and mineral water, and restoring direct flights between the countries. But an opinion poll showed that jobs and poverty top the list of voter concerns. The Georgian economy contracted by 3.9 percent last year. "I'll vote for a candidate who offers a better economic and social program because unemployment, low salaries and pensions, as well as medical insurance, are the main concern for ordinary people," said 68-year old pensioner Khatuna Mumladze. Three election blocs and 14 political parties were battling for the support of 3.5 million eligible voters for seats in 64 municipal councils, including one in the capital. Western support for the 42-year-old Saakashvili has waned over his record on democracy and the war, when an assault by Georgia's U.S.-trained military on the rebel region of South Ossetia triggered a crushing Russian counterstrike. Saakashvili says he has created a model democracy in a region dominated by rigged polls and long-serving authoritarian leaders. Critics accuse him of monopolizing power, marginalizing the opposition and manipulating the media. POLE POSITION Saakashvili faced down months of protests last year but his United National Movement still enjoys solid support. Opponents are threatening to take to the streets again if they deem the vote unfair, but serious disturbances are not expected. "This is the first chance we've had to gauge the level of support that the government has after the 2008 war," said Lawrence Sheets of the International Crisis Group think-tank. As the opposition is dogged by differences and does not have a coherent platform, however, it has struggled to present voters with an attractive alternative to Saakashvili's rule. Opinion polls by the respected U.S. National Democratic Institute and other Western organizations suggest the ruling party will win most of Sunday's polls comfortably. Gigi Ugulava, a member of the ruling party, looks likely to retain his post as mayor of Tbilisi -- seen as a potential springboard to the presidency. His closest challenger appears to be Irakly Alasania, a mild-mannered former U.N. envoy. Western monitors found serious shortcomings in the 2008 presidential vote and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is sending more than 300 observers for Sunday's poll. The West is keen to stabilize the volatile South Caucasus, a transit route for oil and gas to Europe. (Editing by Noah Barkin) World Russia Add a Comment *We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Analyst Research Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Labs Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. 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