51.   Attorney Leonel Fernandez accuses Pena Gomez of trying stave off defeat by raising the issue of vote fraud.

52.   Balloting is staggered to allow police forces to be deployed at polling booths to avoid vote fraud.

53.   But doubts about the integrity of the election grew as officials acknowledged more cases of possible vote fraud.

54.   But election officials and some monitors disputed charges of widespread vote fraud.

55.   But the opposition opposes that plan, saying the next election must be conducted by a neutral caretaker to avoid vote fraud.

56.   But its most persistent theme, in a country long beset by vote fraud and corruption, is a promise of democratic elections and clean government.

57.   Candidates in Bihar have openly flouted government orders not to use armed guards during campaigning, and Bihar has deployed anti-terrorist police to control fighting and prevent vote fraud.

58.   Candidates have flouted government orders not to use armed guards during campaigning, and anti-terrorist police have been deployed to control fighting and prevent vote fraud.

59.   CPDM officials admitted that some vote fraud was inevitable, but denied that it was widespread.

60.   Critics say its principal tactics have been patronage, strong-arm measures and vote fraud.