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Afghan rivals claim poll victory Afghan rivals claim poll victory
(about 1 hour later)
The two leading contenders for Afghanistan's presidential election have both claimed victory.The two leading contenders for Afghanistan's presidential election have both claimed victory.
The campaign teams for incumbent Hamid Karzai and ex-Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah both said they had won an outright majority. The campaign teams for incumbent Hamid Karzai and ex-Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah both said they had won an outright majority in Thursday's poll.
Electoral officials say the ballot counting is now over and the official result will be announced soon, but warned against predicting the outcome.Electoral officials say the ballot counting is now over and the official result will be announced soon, but warned against predicting the outcome.
Millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats to vote in Thursday's poll. They say initial results suggest turnout was between 40 and 50%.
Voting passed off relatively peacefully and, although there were some attacks by insurgents, the UN said the vast majority of polling stations were able to function. This is a lot lower than the 70% that turned out to vote in the first presidential election, in 2004.
The election process won praise from the United States, the United Nations and Nato.
'Different turnouts'
Have Your Say I am not only proud that I voted, but I am proud of my people who accepted many risks to take part in this process. Zia, Kabul Send us your commentHave Your Say I am not only proud that I voted, but I am proud of my people who accepted many risks to take part in this process. Zia, Kabul Send us your comment
But observers have hailed this election a success, after voting passed off relatively peacefully amid threats of Taliban attacks. The UN said the vast majority of polling stations were able to function.
However, Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) said on Friday that 11 people had been killed by insurgent attacks while trying to organise the election.
'Different turnouts'
Deen Mohammad, the campaign chief for Hamid Karzai, said they predicted victory after reports from nearly 29,000 monitors they had at polling stations across the country.Deen Mohammad, the campaign chief for Hamid Karzai, said they predicted victory after reports from nearly 29,000 monitors they had at polling stations across the country.
"Initial results show that the president has got a majority," he told Reuters news agency. "We will not go to a second round. We have got a majority.""Initial results show that the president has got a majority," he told Reuters news agency. "We will not go to a second round. We have got a majority."
COUNTING THE VOTES Counting began after polls closed at 1700 local time on ThursdayVotes counted by hand at each of the 6,200 polling stationsPolling stations are required to post their results immediately, to prevent fraudCandidates' representatives are also given immediate access to resultsThe counting appeared to be completed by Friday lunchtime, with official returns due over the weekend
But a spokesman for Abdullah Abdullah was quick to play down the Karzai camp's claims.But a spokesman for Abdullah Abdullah was quick to play down the Karzai camp's claims.
Fazl Sangcharaki said the results from his observers at polling booths around the country suggested Abdullah Abdullah had won 63% of the vote to Hamid Karzai's 31%.Fazl Sangcharaki said the results from his observers at polling booths around the country suggested Abdullah Abdullah had won 63% of the vote to Hamid Karzai's 31%.
"This is not a final result," he told the AFP news agency. "We are still receiving more results from our people on the ground. We might be done by tomorrow.""This is not a final result," he told the AFP news agency. "We are still receiving more results from our people on the ground. We might be done by tomorrow."
Afghan election officials refused to confirm either candidates' claims. The 62,000 polling stations are required to make public the results as they count them, but Afghan election officials refused to confirm either candidates' claims.
Instead, they asked the campaign teams to refrain from speculating on the results. Instead, they asked the campaign teams to stay calm and refrain from speculating on the results.
Official results had not been expected for a couple of weeks, but the Afghan Election Commission confirmed on Friday that ballot counting was over for the presidential election in all parts of the country. "We cannot confirm any claims by campaigning managers," said Zekria Barakzai of the IEC. "It's the job of the election commission to declare the results. They should be patient."
One election commission official, Zekria Barakzai, told the AFP that he expected the official results to be announced next week. Official results had not been expected for a couple of weeks, but the IEC confirmed on Friday that ballot counting was over for the presidential election in all parts of the country and the result could come in the next few days.
"The turnout was different from south to the north and central parts of Afghanistan but still it is satisfactory and I expect that turnout will be from 40 to 50%," he said. Pre-election opinion polls suggested Hamid Karzai was leading the field of 30 candidates, but might face a second run-off with Mr Abdullah.
AFGHAN POLLS 17 million eligible votersPolls opened at 0700 (0230 GMT) and close at 1700, after voting was extended by an hourAs well as presidential polls, voters chose between 3,000 candidates for 420 seats in provincial councils300,000 troops on patrol (including 100,000 foreign troops)250,000 observers and journalistsFirst polls organised by Afghans themselves, but with international support In pictures: Afghan polls Election security map
If neither candidate wins an outright majority of 50%, then the vote is expected to go to a second round in October.
The IEC said that preliminary results suggest up to 50% of the 17 million registered voters actually came out to vote - a significant drop from the 70% of 10 million voters in 2004.
Mr Barakzai said turnout was different from north to south, where the Taliban's campaign of voter intimidation and attacks in its strongholds was believed to have had some effect.
But, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul, some people would have stayed at home because of disillusionment with the current administration of Hamid Karzai.
People are unhappy that the changes they had expected have not happened - unemployment is still high and poverty still endemic, our correspondent says.
But, he says, Western sponsors of the government believe there are some very good members in the cabinet - and the hope is that once the new president is sworn in changes can be made.