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Karzai closer to election victory Recount clouds Karzai poll lead
(40 minutes later)
Latest results from Afghanistan's presidential election show President Hamid Karzai with 54.1% of the vote after 92% of polling stations declared.Latest results from Afghanistan's presidential election show President Hamid Karzai with 54.1% of the vote after 92% of polling stations declared.
The result pushes President Karzai past the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off with rival Abdullah Abdullah. The results push President Karzai past the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off with rival Abdullah Abdullah.
But the result was thrown into doubt by the UN-backed election complaints commission ordering a number of recounts and audits of votes. But the figures were thrown into doubt by the UN-backed election complaints commission ordering a number of recounts and audits of votes.
It warned that it had found "clear and convincing evidence of fraud".It warned that it had found "clear and convincing evidence of fraud".
The 20 August election has been overshadowed by claims of mass fraud and ballot-box stuffing against all the main candidates. The 20 August election has been overshadowed by claims against all the main candidates of fraud and ballot-box stuffing.
A credible election result was seen as a key objective for the West, as it continues its campaign against the Taliban.A credible election result was seen as a key objective for the West, as it continues its campaign against the Taliban.
Announcing the latest results on Tuesday, the independent election commission (IEC) said Abdullah Abdullah had 28.3% of the vote. The latest results came in from the south, where President Karzai enjoys strong support.
It said it had set aside results from 600 polling stations where it suspects irregularities. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said Abdullah Abdullah remained second, with 28.3% of the vote.
Re-count call However, it said it had set aside results from 600 polling stations where it suspects irregularities and the list of those stations had been sent to the complaints commission (ECC).
Earlier, the complaints commission (ECC) said a re-count and inspection should be done for any polling station where 600 or more votes were cast, or where any single candidate got more than 95% of votes. 'Clear evidence'
Earlier, the ECC said a recount and inspection should be done for any polling station where 600 or more votes were cast, or where any single candidate got more than 95% of votes.
Grant Kippen, chairman of the complaints commission, said it was not known how many polling stations this would involve.Grant Kippen, chairman of the complaints commission, said it was not known how many polling stations this would involve.
Results from a number of them had shown President Karzai as having won 100% of the vote. He said investigations conducted in Ghazni, Paktika and Kandahar found "clear evidence of irregularity" within polling stations and ballot boxes.
"We decided based on those investigations... that we would order the IEC to conduct an audit and recount of polling stations around the country."
Results from a number of polling stations showed President Karzai winning 100% of the vote.
The BBC's Chris Morris, in Kabul, says international pressure is being applied to ensure that the IEC is doing its job fairly.
However, the election is a complex process and becoming more complex by the day, our correspondent adds.
The election results have been released piecemeal by the IEC.The election results have been released piecemeal by the IEC.
The last figures, released on Sunday, gave President Karzai 48.6% of the vote against 31.7% for Abdullah Abdullah. The previous figures, released on Sunday, gave Mr Karzai 48.6% of the vote against 31.7% for Mr Abdullah.