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UN warns Afghans over poll fraud | UN warns Afghans over poll fraud |
(30 minutes later) | |
The UN has called for a crackdown on Afghan poll fraud, amid mounting concerns about irregularities from last month's presidential election. | The UN has called for a crackdown on Afghan poll fraud, amid mounting concerns about irregularities from last month's presidential election. |
UN envoy Kai Eide says results from all ballot boxes in areas where there is any evidence of fraud must be annulled. | UN envoy Kai Eide says results from all ballot boxes in areas where there is any evidence of fraud must be annulled. |
The BBC has learned that the US ambassador in Kabul and a senior UN official met President Hamid Karzai on Monday night to discuss their concerns. | The BBC has learned that the US ambassador in Kabul and a senior UN official met President Hamid Karzai on Monday night to discuss their concerns. |
According to the latest results, Mr Karzai is close to outright victory. | According to the latest results, Mr Karzai is close to outright victory. |
Kai Eide, the UN special representative to Afghanistan, called in a written statement on Tuesday for the election authorities to ensure the final outcome faithfully reflected the will of Afghan voters. | Kai Eide, the UN special representative to Afghanistan, called in a written statement on Tuesday for the election authorities to ensure the final outcome faithfully reflected the will of Afghan voters. |
The 20 August poll has been overshadowed by claims of mass fraud and ballot-box stuffing against all the main candidates. | The 20 August poll has been overshadowed by claims of mass fraud and ballot-box stuffing against all the main candidates. |
Complaints | Complaints |
The BBC's Chris Morris in Kabul says more results are due to be declared on Tuesday, but many senior international officials believe they could be fraudulent. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Kabul says more results are due to be declared on Tuesday, but many senior international officials believe they could be fraudulent. |
AFGHAN POLL FRAUD 6 Sep: About 200,000 votes are discounted by poll officials5 Sep: Elder from Paktika says he helped fill in 900 ballots for Karzai3 Sep: Claims 30,000 fraudulent votes cast for Karzai in Kandahar30 Aug: Poll commission says 2,000 fraud allegations being probed; 600 are deemed serious20 Aug: Election day and claims 80,000 ballots were filled out fradulently for Karzai in Ghazni18 Aug: Ballot cards sold openly and vote bribes offered, BBC investigation finds | AFGHAN POLL FRAUD 6 Sep: About 200,000 votes are discounted by poll officials5 Sep: Elder from Paktika says he helped fill in 900 ballots for Karzai3 Sep: Claims 30,000 fraudulent votes cast for Karzai in Kandahar30 Aug: Poll commission says 2,000 fraud allegations being probed; 600 are deemed serious20 Aug: Election day and claims 80,000 ballots were filled out fradulently for Karzai in Ghazni18 Aug: Ballot cards sold openly and vote bribes offered, BBC investigation finds |
Afghan election officials at the weekend annulled results amounting to about 200,000 ballots from 447 out of some 28,000 poll centres. | |
But there are suggestions that irregularities were much more widespread. | But there are suggestions that irregularities were much more widespread. |
The latest results on Sunday showed Mr Karzai close to the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off ballot, with three-quarters of votes counted. | The latest results on Sunday showed Mr Karzai close to the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off ballot, with three-quarters of votes counted. |
About 600 serious fraud charges have been lodged with a poll complaints' commission. | About 600 serious fraud charges have been lodged with a poll complaints' commission. |
Our correspondent says a critical issue for the future strategy of Nato members in Afghanistan is that it should have a government with a legitimate electoral mandate. | Our correspondent says a critical issue for the future strategy of Nato members in Afghanistan is that it should have a government with a legitimate electoral mandate. |
He adds if the poll is perceived to have been stolen, it will make it much more difficult to fight the Taliban, tackle corruption and spread good government. | He adds if the poll is perceived to have been stolen, it will make it much more difficult to fight the Taliban, tackle corruption and spread good government. |
Election day was also marred by more than 400 Taliban attacks, including against voters whom the insurgents had warned not to turn out. | |
The controversy comes as Washington is considering whether to send thousands more troops to the country, where violence has hit a record high eight years on from the US-led invasion. | The controversy comes as Washington is considering whether to send thousands more troops to the country, where violence has hit a record high eight years on from the US-led invasion. |
It is not known how Hamid Karzai responded to Monday evening's visit by Karl Eikenberry, US Ambassador to Afghanistan, and UN Special Representative Peter Galbraith. | It is not known how Hamid Karzai responded to Monday evening's visit by Karl Eikenberry, US Ambassador to Afghanistan, and UN Special Representative Peter Galbraith. |
In an interview published on Monday in the French newspaper Le Figaro, Mr Karzai said "the Americans" were attacking him secretly because they would like him to be more docile. | In an interview published on Monday in the French newspaper Le Figaro, Mr Karzai said "the Americans" were attacking him secretly because they would like him to be more docile. |
He told the newspaper that "nobody has an interest in the Afghan president becoming an American puppet". | He told the newspaper that "nobody has an interest in the Afghan president becoming an American puppet". |
Are you in Afghanistan? Are you worried about election fraud? Do you think the elections are legitimate? Send us your views using the form below. | Are you in Afghanistan? Are you worried about election fraud? Do you think the elections are legitimate? Send us your views using the form below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |