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Karzai closer to Afghan poll win Karzai closer to Afghan poll win
(20 minutes later)
Partial results from Afghanistan's presidential election show incumbent Hamid Karzai has extended his lead.Partial results from Afghanistan's presidential election show incumbent Hamid Karzai has extended his lead.
With three quarters of votes counted, Mr Karzai had 48.6%, followed by Abdullah Abdullah with 31.7%. With three-quarters of votes counted, Mr Karzai had 48.6%, followed by Abdullah Abdullah with 31.7%.
Both have claimed victory after the 20 August poll, which has been marred by fraud allegations. Officials said results from 447 of about 28,000 polling stations had been annulled, after fraud investigations.
Some results have been annulled due to irregularities, officials said. The winner needs to secure an outright majority of 50% to avoid a run-off. The winner needs to secure an outright majority of 50% to avoid a run-off. The 20 August poll has been marred by allegations of widespread fraud.
Independent Election Commission official Daud Ali Najafi said results from 447 of about 28,000 polling stations had been annulled, following fraud investigations.
He told Sunday's news conference in Kabul that out of 4.3m valid votes, Mr Karzai had so far won 2.08m and Mr Abdullah 1.36m.
Another presidential candidate, Ramazan Bashardost, was a distant third, with fewer than half a million ballots.
Election officials said results from some polling stations where 100% of votes went to Mr Karzai would be allowed to stand unless fraud was proved to have taken place.
The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul says it looks likely that Mr Karzai will eventually pass the 50% threshold, given that much of the remaining votes to be announced are in his Pashtun heartlands in the south.The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul says it looks likely that Mr Karzai will eventually pass the 50% threshold, given that much of the remaining votes to be announced are in his Pashtun heartlands in the south.
There were more than 2,000 complaints of irregularities after the election.
Out of 4.3m valid votes, Mr Karzai had so far won 2.08m and Mr Abdullah 1.36m, said Independent Election Commission official Daud Ali Najafi at Sunday's news conference in Kabul.
Another presidential candidate, Ramazan Bashardost, was a distant third, with fewer than half a million ballots.
Results from some polling stations where 100% of votes went to Mr Karzai would be allowed to stand unless fraud was proved to have taken place, election officials added.
The partial results are provisional, pending ongoing investigations into allegations of electoral fraud. A final result is not expected until the end of September.