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| Karzai 'stripped of outright win' | Karzai 'stripped of outright win' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A panel probing fraud claims in the Afghan election has found Hamid Karzai did not gain enough valid votes for an outright win, the BBC understands. | A panel probing fraud claims in the Afghan election has found Hamid Karzai did not gain enough valid votes for an outright win, the BBC understands. |
| Preliminary results from August's first round had placed Mr Karzai comfortably over the 50% plus one vote threshold needed to avoid a run-off. | Preliminary results from August's first round had placed Mr Karzai comfortably over the 50% plus one vote threshold needed to avoid a run-off. |
| But the BBC understands Mr Karzai's vote share has fallen below half, after a number of votes were ruled invalid. | |
| Under poll rules, Mr Karzai now faces a runoff against rival Abdullah Abdullah. | Under poll rules, Mr Karzai now faces a runoff against rival Abdullah Abdullah. |
| In its much-anticipated report on Monday, the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) ordered that ballots from 210 polling stations be discounted. | In its much-anticipated report on Monday, the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) ordered that ballots from 210 polling stations be discounted. |
| AFGHAN ELECTION BODIES Independent Election Commission Constitutional body appointed by Afghan president to oversee pollsRegisters voters, sets up poll stations, counts and tallies votes, issues final resultsAccountable to Afghan parliament and people Electoral Complaints Commission Independent panel with two Afghan members and three UN-appointed membersInvestigates allegations of fraud and passes findings to IECAlthough it reports to IEC, law states IEC must accept ECC findings Q&A: Afghan election Afghan poll: Possible outcomes | AFGHAN ELECTION BODIES Independent Election Commission Constitutional body appointed by Afghan president to oversee pollsRegisters voters, sets up poll stations, counts and tallies votes, issues final resultsAccountable to Afghan parliament and people Electoral Complaints Commission Independent panel with two Afghan members and three UN-appointed membersInvestigates allegations of fraud and passes findings to IECAlthough it reports to IEC, law states IEC must accept ECC findings Q&A: Afghan election Afghan poll: Possible outcomes |
| The panel said it found "clear and convincing evidence of fraud" at the polling stations, which were across the country. | The panel said it found "clear and convincing evidence of fraud" at the polling stations, which were across the country. |
| It was not clear how Mr Karzai would respond to the ECC findings, amid reports of a possible legal challenge. | It was not clear how Mr Karzai would respond to the ECC findings, amid reports of a possible legal challenge. |
| Initial results released last month had given him nearly 55% of the votes, with former foreign minister Mr Abdullah on 28%. | Initial results released last month had given him nearly 55% of the votes, with former foreign minister Mr Abdullah on 28%. |
| The Afghan president says he won the election outright, but EU observers have said as many as one in four votes cast were suspicious. | The Afghan president says he won the election outright, but EU observers have said as many as one in four votes cast were suspicious. |
| Sources have told the BBC that Mr Karzai is furious over the prospect of facing a second round. | Sources have told the BBC that Mr Karzai is furious over the prospect of facing a second round. |
| The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says the Afghan leader believes an election victory has been stolen from him and he is threatening to block attempts to hold any second round. | The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says the Afghan leader believes an election victory has been stolen from him and he is threatening to block attempts to hold any second round. |
| But Washington has warned it will not send any more US troops to Afghanistan until a political resolution is reached. | But Washington has warned it will not send any more US troops to Afghanistan until a political resolution is reached. |
| ANALYSIS Lyse Doucet, BBC News, Kabul When this tangled process began, the ECC, the only electoral body composed of Afghan and foreign representation, was regarded as the "final arbiter." | |
| The IEC's role was to ratify and announce the results. The IEC is accused by many of being too close to a president who appointed all its commissioners. It now says its needs "a day or two" to examine the details of the ECC report. | |
| One source warned of a possible "train crash". Others are still hoping a compromise can emerge at this critical 11th hour. | |
| President Karzai has repeatedly warned foreign countries not to interfere in the election process. | |
| Sources say he firmly believes Western countries, in particular the United States and Britain, are conspiring to rob him of victory. | |
| In the last few days Western leaders and diplomats have engaged in a furious round of diplomacy to get Mr Karzai to accept the election results. | In the last few days Western leaders and diplomats have engaged in a furious round of diplomacy to get Mr Karzai to accept the election results. |
| But our correspondent says that for now that pressure does not seem to have worked and an election which it was hoped would help stabilise Afghanistan has brought yet more political uncertainty. | But our correspondent says that for now that pressure does not seem to have worked and an election which it was hoped would help stabilise Afghanistan has brought yet more political uncertainty. |
| The political paralysis has delayed the formation of a government that the US believes is needed to help combat the growing Taliban insurgency. | |
| The ECC launched its investigation after the vote as allegations of mass fraud began to emerge. | The ECC launched its investigation after the vote as allegations of mass fraud began to emerge. |
| The panel reports to the Independent Election Commission (IEC), which will make the final announcement on the election's outcome. | The panel reports to the Independent Election Commission (IEC), which will make the final announcement on the election's outcome. |
| The IEC is widely regarded as pro-Karzai, but it is legally bound to accept the ECC's findings. | The IEC is widely regarded as pro-Karzai, but it is legally bound to accept the ECC's findings. |
| Are you in Afghanistan? What is your reaction to the ECC report? Send us your views using the form below. | Are you in Afghanistan? What is your reaction to the ECC report? Send us your views using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |