20/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - OSCE Office Head in Baku, Azerbaijan, Maurizio Pavesi, expressed deep concern on 19 October over the deterioration of the political situation in Azerbaijan and its potential impact on the election campaign, a fortnight ahead of the country's general elections. 'The increasing number of violent incidents, the use of excessive and unjustified force against demonstrators, as well as questionable detentions and mass arrests are a major concern for us,' he said. On 16/17 October, law enforcement agencies reportedly detained around 200 opposition activists and arrested several registered parliamentary candidates and some members of the family of the exiled chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Rasul Guliyev. Journalists were attacked during the incidents. The European Commission will be issuing a statement from Strasbourg on Wednesday about the situation in Azerbaijan.