Sudan ? International monitors said Saturday that Sudan’s first multiparty elections in more than two decades failed to meet international standards, an assessment that diminishes hopes the voting would set the nation on the road to peace and democracy.

The conclusions also boosted fears that a flawed vote could fuel violence in the conflict-strewn country, where some opposition parties challenging the fairness of the process boycotted all or some of the local and national races.

However, the observers did not call for a revote, and instead recommended that lessons drawn from the process be applied to next year’s crucial referendum on southern independence.