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| Karzai condemns EU's fraud claims | Karzai condemns EU's fraud claims |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai's campaign team has condemned as "irresponsible" claims by EU monitors about the extent of election fraud. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai's campaign team has condemned as "irresponsible" claims by EU monitors about the extent of election fraud. |
| The row came as the final preliminary result gave Mr Karzai victory with 54.6%. The result is not yet official. | |
| EU election observers earlier said about 1.5m votes - about a quarter of all ballots - could be fraudulent. | |
| The claims came amid a growing strain in the international community about how to deal with the election fallout. | |
| Earlier, the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan admitted his deputy had left the country after a row between them over the election. | Earlier, the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan admitted his deputy had left the country after a row between them over the election. |
| But Kai Eide, a Norwegian diplomat, denied reports he had ordered his US deputy, Peter Galbraith, to leave. | But Kai Eide, a Norwegian diplomat, denied reports he had ordered his US deputy, Peter Galbraith, to leave. |
| Although Wednesday's results announcement represents a complete tally of votes, the final declaration of a winner is not likely to be made for some weeks. | |
| Mr Abdullah was listed second with 27.8% and turnout was confirmed as 38.7%. | |
| 'Interfering' | 'Interfering' |
| The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says the latest fraud allegations are the most serious so far. | The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says the latest fraud allegations are the most serious so far. |
| Mr Karzai's team reacted angrily to the EU monitors' statement. | Mr Karzai's team reacted angrily to the EU monitors' statement. |
| AFGHAN POLL FRAUD 15 Sep: ECC chief says 10% of votes need to be recounted8 Sep: Poll complaints body orders some recounts nationwide8 Sep: IEC says votes from 600 polling stations "quarantined"3 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 fraudulently for Karzai in Ghazni18 Aug: Ballot cards sold openly and voter bribes offered Election: Main fraud allegations | AFGHAN POLL FRAUD 15 Sep: ECC chief says 10% of votes need to be recounted8 Sep: Poll complaints body orders some recounts nationwide8 Sep: IEC says votes from 600 polling stations "quarantined"3 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 fraudulently for Karzai in Ghazni18 Aug: Ballot cards sold openly and voter bribes offered Election: Main fraud allegations |
| A statement from his campaign office said: "Today's announcement of the number of suspected votes, by the head and deputy head of the EU Election Monitoring Commission, is partial, irresponsible and in contradiction with Afghanistan's constitution." | A statement from his campaign office said: "Today's announcement of the number of suspected votes, by the head and deputy head of the EU Election Monitoring Commission, is partial, irresponsible and in contradiction with Afghanistan's constitution." |
| The statement said the monitors should be referring their findings to the Independent Election Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission. | The statement said the monitors should be referring their findings to the Independent Election Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission. |
| "We believe the only way we can have a legitimate result out of the current process is to allow the legal institutions to complete the process and refrain from interfering in their affairs," the statement said. | "We believe the only way we can have a legitimate result out of the current process is to allow the legal institutions to complete the process and refrain from interfering in their affairs," the statement said. |
| Dimitra Ioannou, from the EU monitoring mission, had said that of the suspicious votes cast, 1.1m were for Mr Karzai and 300,000 for his main challenger, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah. | Dimitra Ioannou, from the EU monitoring mission, had said that of the suspicious votes cast, 1.1m were for Mr Karzai and 300,000 for his main challenger, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah. |
| "Massive fraud was taking place at polling station level and when all these ballot boxes arrived at the tally centres, instead of being quarantined and investigated, they were accepted as good results." | "Massive fraud was taking place at polling station level and when all these ballot boxes arrived at the tally centres, instead of being quarantined and investigated, they were accepted as good results." |
| Our correspondent says the allegations could have major implications for the outcome of the election and could put pressure on the complaints commission to widen its investigation into voter fraud. | Our correspondent says the allegations could have major implications for the outcome of the election and could put pressure on the complaints commission to widen its investigation into voter fraud. |
| However, the claims also revealed a rift within the international community on its response to the election. | However, the claims also revealed a rift within the international community on its response to the election. |
| Mr Eide and Mr Galbraith reportedly disagreed over the extent to which vote recounts were necessary. | Mr Eide and Mr Galbraith reportedly disagreed over the extent to which vote recounts were necessary. |
| Mr Galbraith was said to have advocated a wholesale recount. | Mr Galbraith was said to have advocated a wholesale recount. |
| Such a move would probably mean a second-round run-off, potentially leaving Afghanistan in political limbo for months. | Such a move would probably mean a second-round run-off, potentially leaving Afghanistan in political limbo for months. |
| Mr Eide said Mr Galbraith would "leave the mission for a while and then he'll come back". | Mr Eide said Mr Galbraith would "leave the mission for a while and then he'll come back". |