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UN warns Afghans over poll fraud UN warns Afghans over poll fraud
(31 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 Afghan electoral complaints' commission has ordered a number of audits and recounts.
According to the latest results, Mr Karzai is close to outright victory. According to the latest results, Mr Karzai is close to the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off ballot.
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 Major fraud complaints
The American ambassador and a senior UN envoy met President Hamid Karzai on Monday night to discuss their concerns.
AFGHAN POLL FRAUD 8 Sep: Poll complaints body orders some recounts nationwide6 Sep: About 200,000 votes are discounted by poll officials3 Sep: Claims 30,000 fraudulent votes cast for Karzai in Kandahar30 Aug: 2,000 fraud allegations are probed; 600 deemed serious20 Aug: Election day and claims 80,000 ballots were filled out fradulently for Karzai in Ghazni18 Aug: Ballot cards sold openly and voter bribes offered Suicide bomb hits Afghan airport Merkel regrets Afghan raid deaths
It is not known how Mr Karzai responded to the visit by Karl Eikenberry, US Ambassador to Afghanistan, and UN Special Representative Peter Galbraith.
On Tuesday, Mr Eide, the UN special representative to Afghanistan, called in a written statement for the poll authorities to ensure the final outcome faithfully reflected the will of Afghan voters.
Later, the electoral complaints' commission said there should be a recount where any single candidate received more than 95% of valid votes, in any polling station where more than 100 votes were cast.
The body - which has been investigating hundreds of allegations of major poll fraud - also called for an audit in any polling station where 600 or more votes were cast.
It is not yet known how many of the 28,000 polling stations used on election day nationwide could be affected by the move.
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 On Sunday, Afghan election officials annulled about 200,000 ballots.
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.
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.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 mulls 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. Mr Karzai said on Monday in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro that "the Americans" were attacking him because they wanted 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 "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.
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