U.S. observers shocked at Ukrainian electoral fraud

Sen. Lugar

Evidence of electoral fraud has prompted Ukraine's parliament to rule its presidential election invalid.

"I'm shocked, shocked, to find electoral fraud is going on here," said U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican serving as an election monitor, before being handed a stack of ballots.

"Rest assured," he told reporters, "That in the United States, our Republican legislature and Republican judiciary will find no cause to rule the official victory of Republican President George W. Bush invalid."

Other Americans offered assistance.

"The evidence of electoral fraud is unacceptable," said Walden O'Dell, chief executive of Diebold Inc. "Our company can help. In Ohio's presidential vote, our electronic voting machines left no evidence of fraud."