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Karzai defends vote 'integrity' Karzai defends vote 'integrity'
(10 minutes later)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he believes in the integrity of last month's election process despite allegations of vote-rigging.Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he believes in the integrity of last month's election process despite allegations of vote-rigging.
He said he had been "surprised and rather shocked" by EU observers who recently said that about a quarter of votes could be fraudulent.He said he had been "surprised and rather shocked" by EU observers who recently said that about a quarter of votes could be fraudulent.
Mr Karzai said it was up to the Afghan constitutional bodies to investigate the claims of fraud.Mr Karzai said it was up to the Afghan constitutional bodies to investigate the claims of fraud.
Final preliminary results have given Mr Karzai victory with 54.6%. Final preliminary results have given Mr Karzai victory with 54.6% of the vote.
"I believe firmly, firmly in the integrity of the election and the integrity of the Afghan people, and the integrity of the government in that process," Mr Karzai told a news conference."I believe firmly, firmly in the integrity of the election and the integrity of the Afghan people, and the integrity of the government in that process," Mr Karzai told a news conference.
I'm seeking, a respect for that day, a respect for the bravery of the Afghan people to come and vote Hamid KarzaiI'm seeking, a respect for that day, a respect for the bravery of the Afghan people to come and vote Hamid Karzai
He accepted there were some government officials who were "partial" to his candidacy, and others who supported his chief rival, the former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.He accepted there were some government officials who were "partial" to his candidacy, and others who supported his chief rival, the former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.
This was inevitable "until Afghanistan grows into a more stable state structure", he said.This was inevitable "until Afghanistan grows into a more stable state structure", he said.
But Mr Karzai denied there was "major fraud" during the 20 August election.But Mr Karzai denied there was "major fraud" during the 20 August election.
"It wasn't that big. If there was fraud, it was small - it happens all over the world," he said."It wasn't that big. If there was fraud, it was small - it happens all over the world," he said.
He added that any allegations of fraud should be investigated "fairly and without prejudice".He added that any allegations of fraud should be investigated "fairly and without prejudice".
Mr Karzai told reporters there had been overwhelmingly negative press coverage of the election, which was unfair on the Afghans who braved the violence to turn out and vote.Mr Karzai told reporters there had been overwhelmingly negative press coverage of the election, which was unfair on the Afghans who braved the violence to turn out and vote.
"Almost half of the country was under attack, hundreds of rockets came on election sites all over the country, but people even then came out and voted," he said."Almost half of the country was under attack, hundreds of rockets came on election sites all over the country, but people even then came out and voted," he said.
"That's what I'm seeking, a respect for that day, a respect for the bravery of the Afghan people to come and vote.""That's what I'm seeking, a respect for that day, a respect for the bravery of the Afghan people to come and vote."
'Massive fraud''Massive fraud'
The results of the election have been coming out on a weekly basis as votes have been counted.The results of the election have been coming out on a weekly basis as votes have been counted.
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 allegationsAFGHAN 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
The final preliminary result - giving Mr Karzai 54.6% of the vote - was announced on Wednesday, although it has not yet been made official.The final preliminary result - giving Mr Karzai 54.6% of the vote - was announced on Wednesday, although it has not yet been made official.
Also on Wednesday, EU observers said that about 1.5m votes of the 5.6m cast showed indications of fraud.Also on Wednesday, EU observers said that about 1.5m votes of the 5.6m cast showed indications of fraud.
Dimitra Ioannou of the EU monitoring mission, said that of the suspicious votes cast, 1.1m were for Mr Karzai and 300,000 for Abdullah Abdullah. Dimitra Ioannou of the EU monitoring mission, said that, of the suspicious votes cast, 1.1m were for Mr Karzai and 300,000 for 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," he said."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," he said.
The Afghan Electoral Complaints Commission says it is recounting votes cast at 10% of all the polling stations.The Afghan Electoral Complaints Commission says it is recounting votes cast at 10% of all the polling stations.
If the result stands, Mr Karzai will not have to face a run-off because he took more than 50% of the vote.If the result stands, Mr Karzai will not have to face a run-off because he took more than 50% of the vote.