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Abdullah 'to boycott Afghan vote' | Abdullah 'to boycott Afghan vote' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Abdullah Abdullah, President Hamid Karzai's main rival in the second round of Afghanistan's presidential election, is reportedly set to abandon the poll. | Abdullah Abdullah, President Hamid Karzai's main rival in the second round of Afghanistan's presidential election, is reportedly set to abandon the poll. |
A senior adviser to Mr Abdullah told the BBC he was being forced to withdraw because of concerns that the vote would be as fraudulent as the first round. | A senior adviser to Mr Abdullah told the BBC he was being forced to withdraw because of concerns that the vote would be as fraudulent as the first round. |
He has called for the dismissal of the head of the Afghan Independent Election Commission, a demand Mr Karzai rejects. | He has called for the dismissal of the head of the Afghan Independent Election Commission, a demand Mr Karzai rejects. |
Hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted from August's first round. | Hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted from August's first round. |
The UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission's (ECC) action meant Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below the 50% plus one vote threshold for outright victory, indicating a run-off poll was needed. | The UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission's (ECC) action meant Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below the 50% plus one vote threshold for outright victory, indicating a run-off poll was needed. |
'Nothing has changed' | 'Nothing has changed' |
The BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says rumours have begun to circulate in the capital that President Karzai's only opponent in the second round election scheduled for 7 November may pull out. | The BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says rumours have begun to circulate in the capital that President Karzai's only opponent in the second round election scheduled for 7 November may pull out. |
The fact is that the infrastructure of this fraud is still there Ahmed Wali MassoudSenior Adviser to Abdullah Abdullah | The fact is that the infrastructure of this fraud is still there Ahmed Wali MassoudSenior Adviser to Abdullah Abdullah |
It is not confirmed, but Saturday is the deadline that Mr Abdullah has set for a series of "minimum conditions" for holding a relatively fair and free contest to be accepted, our correspondent says. | It is not confirmed, but Saturday is the deadline that Mr Abdullah has set for a series of "minimum conditions" for holding a relatively fair and free contest to be accepted, our correspondent says. |
These include the closure of many polling stations, and the sacking of the head of the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC), Azizullah Lodin, within five days, he adds. | These include the closure of many polling stations, and the sacking of the head of the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC), Azizullah Lodin, within five days, he adds. |
On Monday, the former foreign minister said Mr Lodin had "no credibility". Mr Lodin denies allegations that he favoured Mr Karzai. | On Monday, the former foreign minister said Mr Lodin had "no credibility". Mr Lodin denies allegations that he favoured Mr Karzai. |
One of Mr Abdullah's senior advisers, Ahmed Wali Massoud, said he was unhappy that nothing had been done to redress the electoral system's problems. | |
KARZAI V ABDULLAH Hamid Karzai: First popularly elected president of AfghanistanOpposed Soviet occupation in 1980sCritics say he has done little to rein in corruption Abdullah Abdullah: Tajik-Pashtun, doctor by professionSenior Northern Alliance leader during Taliban ruleRemoved from Karzai's cabinet in 2006 Profile: Hamid Karzai Profile: Abdullah Abdullah | KARZAI V ABDULLAH Hamid Karzai: First popularly elected president of AfghanistanOpposed Soviet occupation in 1980sCritics say he has done little to rein in corruption Abdullah Abdullah: Tajik-Pashtun, doctor by professionSenior Northern Alliance leader during Taliban ruleRemoved from Karzai's cabinet in 2006 Profile: Hamid Karzai Profile: Abdullah Abdullah |
"The fact is that the infrastructure of this fraud is still there. Almost 1.5 million votes were rigged. Nothing has changed," he told the BBC. | "The fact is that the infrastructure of this fraud is still there. Almost 1.5 million votes were rigged. Nothing has changed," he told the BBC. |
"So if you go back and do the second round election, it means that it will happen again. So, therefore, I don't think that we would be willing to participate." | "So if you go back and do the second round election, it means that it will happen again. So, therefore, I don't think that we would be willing to participate." |
An announcement might come as early as Saturday but was more likely on Sunday, people close to Mr Abdullah told the Associated Press. | An announcement might come as early as Saturday but was more likely on Sunday, people close to Mr Abdullah told the Associated Press. |
Earlier, the Independent Election Commission announced that it planned to open 6,322 polling stations for the run-off - more than it did during the first round. | Earlier, the Independent Election Commission announced that it planned to open 6,322 polling stations for the run-off - more than it did during the first round. |
The Electoral Complaints Commission had recommended cutting the number from 6,000 to about 5,800 - to make sure there would be enough monitors to limit fraud and troops to ensure security. | The Electoral Complaints Commission had recommended cutting the number from 6,000 to about 5,800 - to make sure there would be enough monitors to limit fraud and troops to ensure security. |