In Baku, Azerbaijan, thousands have taken to the streets to protest at what they believe was systematic vote rigging in the country's parliamentary elections, held last weekend.

Popular discontent with the result has been mounting since the polls, which were won by President Ilham Aliyev's New Azerbaijan Party.

Although he backs the result, Mr Aliyev vows to punish those guilty of fraud. Opposition leaders Isa Gambar (left) and Ali Keremli joined a march into central Baku.

An estimated 15,000 people filled Gelebe Square to hear opposition leaders call for the ruling government to resign.

Many came clad in the orange, a nod to the peaceful protests in Ukraine in 2004 which swept Viktor Yushchenko to power, and became known as the orange revolution.

The three-hour demonstration was officially sanctioned by the authorities, but there was a heavy police presence.

Although police and protesters were squeezed close together, the atmosphere was largely peaceful and there were few signs of trouble.