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Afghan fraud ballots invalidated Afghan fraud ballots invalidated
(about 1 hour later)
The Afghan Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) has ordered ballots from polling stations in two provinces to be invalidated because of fraud. The Afghan Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) has for the first time invalidated some ballots from the presidential election because of fraud.
It said that there was "clear and convincing evidence of fraud" in a number of polling stations in the provinces Paktika and Ghazni. It said that there was "clear and evidence of fraud" in a number of polling stations in the provinces Paktika, Kandahar and Ghazni.
Earlier this week results from 600 stations where there were suspected irregularities were "quarantined".
Correspondents say that there could now be months of arguments about the vote.
Afghanistan's second direct presidential election on 20 August was marred by low turnout and widespread allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and other fraud.
According to partial results, Mr Karzai has passed the 50% mark, which means he does not have to face a second round run-off.
'Miscounted ballots'
A statement on the ECC website said that all ballots in five polling stations in Paktika were invalidated.A statement on the ECC website said that all ballots in five polling stations in Paktika were invalidated.
In Ghazni the ECC ordered that ballots cast in 27 stations be invalidated. In Ghazni the ECC ordered that ballots cast in 27 stations be invalidated, while in Kandahar ballots in 51 polling station were invalidated.
There were 600-700 ballot papers at each of Afghanistan's 25,450 polling stations, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has said. Afghanistan's 25,450 polling stations had 600-700 ballot papers each.
Afghans voted in the country's second direct presidential election on 20 August, but the election was marred by low turnout and widespread allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and other fraud. Abdullah Abdullah argues that the vote has been 'stolen'
The ECC said in a a statement that its investigations in Ghazni "a number of indicators of fraud including unfolded ballots, votes for candidates inserted inside bundles for other candidates, miscounted ballots, missing material, uniformity of markings, seal numbers which did not match numbers on the record of seals and lists of voters with numerous fictitious card numbers".
In Kandahar and Paktika the ECC said that "ballots were not legally cast, or were not legally counted".
The ECC's move follows complaints earlier on Thursday by Abdullah Abdullah, the main challenger in the election, who said that the count was being manipulated by President Karzai.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Mr Abdullah said the election commission was on the president's side.