This ruined public freedoms and contributed to generally credible national elections in December 1997.

The nation had shown, he said, "that we can conduct free, honest, orderly and credible elections."

The force would be mandated not just to oversee Vietnam's withdrawal but to make possible the holding of credible, democratic elections.

Furthermore, it was important that free, fair and credible general elections planned for November 2011 were held.

This year also saw Iraq hold credible elections that drew a strong turnout.

They wanted a neutral government established until "fair, free and credible elections" could be held in which all parties participated.

Afghanistan is demonstrating that even one of the world's poorest and least secure countries can conduct credible elections.

The atmosphere prevailing in the country did not give rise to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

"You cannot have credible elections if the security conditions continue as they are now," he said.

All they need now is an atmosphere of freedom and a credible election for the coup to be legitimized.