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Corruption fears over Afghan poll Corruption fears over Afghan poll
(about 2 hours later)
An investigation by the BBC has found evidence of fraud and corruption in Afghanistan's presidential election. Afghanistan's presidential election has been beset by fraud and corruption, a BBC investigation suggests.
Thousands of voting cards have been offered for sale and thousands of dollars offered in bribes to buy votes. Voting cards are being sold openly and candidates have been offering thousands of dollars in bribes for votes.
The findings came as campaigning closed before Thursday's election, in which incumbent President Hamid Karzai faces more than 30 challengers.The findings came as campaigning closed before Thursday's election, in which incumbent President Hamid Karzai faces more than 30 challengers.
Meanwhile a suspected car bomb exploded in eastern Kabul, hours after a rocket attack on targets in the centre. Meanwhile a suspected car bomb exploded in eastern Kabul hours after a rocket attack on targets in the centre.
Officials said at least three people were killed in the bomb blast. The suspected car bomb attack took place on a busy road
Several people were reported injured in the explosion, and a UN spokesman told the Associated Press that three Afghans working for the UN were among the wounded. Officials said at least five people were killed in the bomb blast and dozens more were reported injured.
A UN spokesman told the Associated Press news agency that three Afghans working for the UN were among the wounded.
Earlier, one rocket caused some damage inside the presidential palace compound and a second hit the city's police headquarters, but no-one was hurt.Earlier, one rocket caused some damage inside the presidential palace compound and a second hit the city's police headquarters, but no-one was hurt.
Militants have said they will disrupt the elections, and have already targeted the capital twice this month. Militants had threatened to disrupt the election, and have already targeted the capital twice this month.
Multiple voting cardsMultiple voting cards
An Afghan working for the BBC went undercover in Kabul to investigate reports that voting cards were being sold. An Afghan working for the BBC went undercover in Kabul to investigate reports that voting cards were being sold and was offered 1,000 cards, each costing around £6 ($10).
Other vendors made similar offers.
The return of ex-warlord Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum has alarmed the USThe return of ex-warlord Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum has alarmed the US
He was offered 1,000 cards, each costing around £6 ($10). Other vendors made similar offers.
It is impossible to know how many voting cards have been sold in such a manner, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul, but there have been a number of arrests.It is impossible to know how many voting cards have been sold in such a manner, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul, but there have been a number of arrests.
Multiple voting cards are reported to have been issued to some individuals, while government workers have actively and illegally campaigned for candidates, says our correspondent.Multiple voting cards are reported to have been issued to some individuals, while government workers have actively and illegally campaigned for candidates, says our correspondent.
An influential tribal leader in the north of the country said he had been offered thousands of pounds by campaign teams in exchange for delivering large blocks of votes. An influential tribal leader in the north of the country said he had been offered thousands of dollars by campaign teams in exchange for delivering large blocks of votes.
Final rallies Separately, an independent monitoring group said it had shown evidence of corruption to election officials but they had not acted on the information.
An independent monitoring group said it had shown evidence of corruption to election officials but they had not acted on the information. Western officials have conceded that the election will be flawed but say a flawed election is still better than no vote at all.
But Western officials have said that, while the election will be flawed, Afghanistan should not be held to the same standards as elsewhere and that a flawed election is still better than no vote at all. class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8173389.stm">Afghan elections: Main candidates class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8206019.stm">In pictures: Campaigning closes
class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8173389.stm">Afghan elections: Main candidates class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8206019.stm">In pictures: Campaigning closes class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8203711.stm">Deaths take UK Afghan toll to 201 Mr Karzai, who is seen as the frontrunner, and his two main rivals held their last rallies of the campaign on Monday.
Mr Karzai is seen as the frontrunner in the race. The current president was forced to defend his links with notorious warlord, Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum, during a TV debate.
On Monday, a notorious ex-warlord and key ally of Mr Karzai, Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum, flew in from Turkey to endorse the president at his final campaign rally. The election is taking place amid an upsurge in violence - with a survey by the BBC's Afghan service suggesting the government has little or no control of 30% of the country.
"We need to go with Hamid Karzai into the future," Gen Dostum told cheering supporters in Shiberghan, his home city. A spokesman for Mr Karzai said the government did not agree with the findings, saying there were security problems in just a few districts.
Two of Mr Karzai's main rivals, who formerly served under him as ministers, also held their final rallies on Monday.
In Kabul, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah addressed a crowd of 10,000 supporters, many wearing blue shifts or waving blue flags.
The ex-Finance Minister, Ashraf Ghani, addressed a rally of 5,000 in the eastern Nangarhar province.
Mr Ghani, who is running on a campaign of economic development, vowed to replace the "corrupt government with a legitimate one", according to French news agency, AFP.
The UN and the US both expressed concern at the timing of Gen Dostum's return and any prospective role he may have in government.
In a live televised election debate on Sunday, Mr Karzai defended his alliances with several Afghan warlords, saying they served the interests of national unity.
Taliban threat
The election is taking place amid mounting violence in the country, with Taliban militants threatening to harm anyone who takes part. There are fears that the turnout could be low as a result.
A survey by the BBC's Afghan service suggests the government has limited or no control in 30% of the country.
The survey is based on assessments by reporters in the field who found that in 4% of Afghanistan's districts, the government provides no security or services.
The majority of them are in the south, where most Taliban attacks have taken place.
A spokesman for President Karzai said the government did not agree with the findings and there were security problems in just a few districts.
Our correspondent says that, while there is evidence of corruption, above all it is the ongoing war with the Taliban - in at least a third of the country - that makes this election far from normal.
But having invested so heavily in terms of time, money and even lives, Western officials are likely to declare the vote a success - whatever the flaws and challenges, he adds.
Are you in Afghanistan? Are you worried about security at the forthcoming elections? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Afghanistan? Are you worried about security at the forthcoming elections? Send us your comments using the form below.
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