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Early Afghan election results due Early Afghan election results due
(about 2 hours later)
Preliminary results in Afghanistan's presidential elections are set to be announced on Tuesday, the country's election commission has said.Preliminary results in Afghanistan's presidential elections are set to be announced on Tuesday, the country's election commission has said.
The results will be announced against a backdrop of allegations of widespread fraud. Afghanistan's election watchdog is looking into hundreds of complaints.The results will be announced against a backdrop of allegations of widespread fraud. Afghanistan's election watchdog is looking into hundreds of complaints.
The two leading candidates, Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, have both claimed to be ahead in the polls.The two leading candidates, Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, have both claimed to be ahead in the polls.
But the final results are not expected to be known for several weeks.But the final results are not expected to be known for several weeks.
The Independent Election Commission is expected to announce less than 20% of the total vote as counting and verification continues.The Independent Election Commission is expected to announce less than 20% of the total vote as counting and verification continues.
The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says that controversy continues to dog this election with allegations of fraud, corruption and ballot stuffing and concerns about low voter turnout, especially in the south. The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says that controversy continues to dog this election, with allegations of fraud, corruption and ballot stuffing and concerns about low voter turnout, especially in the south.
The election commission is also being urged to wait until the official election adjudicators, the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), complete their investigations.The election commission is also being urged to wait until the official election adjudicators, the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), complete their investigations.
Fraud allegationsFraud allegations
ANALYSIS Ian PannellBBC News There is a sense that there was something of a rush to declare the poll a success, certainly in the first 24 hours after election day. Now things have calmed down, people are taking a more considered view. ANALYSIS Ian PannellBBC News, Kabul There is a sense that there was something of a rush to declare the poll a success, certainly in the first 24 hours after election day. Now things have calmed down, people are taking a more considered view.
There are almost 800 allegations lodged with the Election Complaints Commission, 50 of them serious.There are almost 800 allegations lodged with the Election Complaints Commission, 50 of them serious.
To declare this was a success would indicate that there had been widespread turnout across the country. At the moment it seems that was not the case.To declare this was a success would indicate that there had been widespread turnout across the country. At the moment it seems that was not the case.
Perhaps turnout was 40-50%. But we believe it was significantly lower in the south and particularly in outlying rural areas. We will have to wait and see what the figures are.Perhaps turnout was 40-50%. But we believe it was significantly lower in the south and particularly in outlying rural areas. We will have to wait and see what the figures are.
In the view of some, the number of attacks on the day indicates a high level of success for the Taliban, particularly if turnout in the south and east was as low as people fear.In the view of some, the number of attacks on the day indicates a high level of success for the Taliban, particularly if turnout in the south and east was as low as people fear.
The incumbent, Hamid Karzai, is considered to be ahead in the polls, followed by former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. The incumbent, Mr Karzai, is considered to be ahead in the polls, followed by former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.
Hamid Karzai's finance minister, a key member of his campaign team, has claimed that the president has won 68% of the vote, which means the election would not go to a second round run-off. President Karzai's finance minister, a key member of his campaign team, has claimed that the president has won 68% of the vote, which means the election would not go to a second round run-off.
But analysts say the first tranche of results expected at this stage are unlikely to provide clear indications about who may have won the poll.But analysts say the first tranche of results expected at this stage are unlikely to provide clear indications about who may have won the poll.
And preliminary claims about the result must be viewed with caution, our correspondent says, in the light of the many allegations surrounding this election.And preliminary claims about the result must be viewed with caution, our correspondent says, in the light of the many allegations surrounding this election.
The electoral watchdog is investigating almost 800 complaints of fraud and irregularities and out of these, 54 are considered to be very serious.The electoral watchdog is investigating almost 800 complaints of fraud and irregularities and out of these, 54 are considered to be very serious.
Mr Abdullah has said that he has evidence that voting was widely rigged in favour of Hamid Karzai. He said he had submitted the allegations to the ECC. Mr Abdullah has said that he has evidence that voting was widely rigged in favour of Mr Karzai. He said he had submitted the allegations to the ECC.
Another leading presidential candidate, Mirwais Yasini, told the BBC that workers from his campaign discovered about 800 ballots with ticks next to his name which he believes had been discarded from the ballot box. The evidence has been handed into the ECC.Another leading presidential candidate, Mirwais Yasini, told the BBC that workers from his campaign discovered about 800 ballots with ticks next to his name which he believes had been discarded from the ballot box. The evidence has been handed into the ECC.
Turnout concernTurnout concern
Afghan and Western officials have declared Thursday's poll a success, despite concerns about the turnout, especially in the insurgency-wracked south of the country.Afghan and Western officials have declared Thursday's poll a success, despite concerns about the turnout, especially in the insurgency-wracked south of the country.
The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) has also said that there were more than 400 insurgent attacks on election day, which would make it one of the most violent days in Afghanistan since 2001.The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) has also said that there were more than 400 insurgent attacks on election day, which would make it one of the most violent days in Afghanistan since 2001.
Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said on Sunday that allegations of fraud were to be expected.Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said on Sunday that allegations of fraud were to be expected.
He added that Washington would wait for rulings from both Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission and the ECC before commenting on the election's legitimacy.He added that Washington would wait for rulings from both Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission and the ECC before commenting on the election's legitimacy.