Berlin  - The German government Friday described Georgia's parliamentary elections as "predominantly fair" and as confirmation of support for President Mikheil Saakashvili's pro-Western course.

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier described Wednesday's poll as "an important step towards a democratic society."

Although the elections had been conducted in a calm atmosphere, there were "deficiencies," Steinmeier spokesman Martin Jaeger said.

Jaeger said that, after around 90 per cent of the votes had been counted, Saakashvili's United National Movement appeared to be the victors.

"This would be a confirmation for the West-oriented course of President Mikheil Saakaschwili," he said, calling on all parties in the new parliament to cooperate on implementing needed reforms.

Jaeger declined to be drawn on whether Georgia would be offered a Membership Action Plan (MAP) to join NATO after NATO foreign ministers meet to discuss the potential candidacies of Georgia and Ukraine in December.

The two countries were not offered MAPs at the NATO summit in Bucharest. While the United States is in favour of drawing the former members of the Soviet bloc into the Western alliance, Germany remains concerned about the reaction from Russia. (dpa)