This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8335194.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Abdullah 'may quit Afghan poll' Abdullah 'may quit Afghan poll'
(20 minutes later)
Abdullah Abdullah, President Hamid Karzai's rival in the second round of Afghanistan's presidential poll, is reportedly close to quitting the poll. Abdullah Abdullah, President Hamid Karzai's rival in the second round of Afghanistan's presidential election, is reportedly close to quitting the poll.
Mr Abdullah called for the resignation of key election officials, cabinet ministers and provincial governors as a way to mitigate fraud and corruption.Mr Abdullah called for the resignation of key election officials, cabinet ministers and provincial governors as a way to mitigate fraud and corruption.
The deadline for those conditions to be met expires on Saturday.The deadline for those conditions to be met expires on Saturday.
A senior adviser told the BBC that in talks on Friday, Mr Abdullah decided he would not take part in the poll. A senior adviser said that in talks on Friday, Mr Abdullah's team decided he should not take part in the poll.
But the BBC's Ian Pannell, in Kabul, says this does not mean he is officially withdrawing. The BBC's Ian Pannell, in Kabul, says this does not mean he is officially withdrawing, although Mr Abdullah is expected to decide on his next step this weekend.
Instead, Mr Abdullah may simply tell his supporters that he will not take part and that they should do likewise. Mr Abdullah may simply tell his supporters that he will not take part and that they should do likewise, our correspondent says.
In a meeting with President Karzai earlier this week, Mr Abdullah's demands for resignations were turned down.In a meeting with President Karzai earlier this week, Mr Abdullah's demands for resignations were turned down.
But this election has been a protracted and murky affair, our correspondent says, and until an official announcement is made, the details of any final decision on whether Mr Abdullah is standing won't be known. But this election has been a protracted and murky affair, our correspondent says, and until an official announcement is made, the details of any final decision on whether he is standing won't be known.
'Nothing has changed'
Hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted from August's first round of voting.Hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted from August's first round of voting.
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'
Among the "minimum conditions" Mr Abdullah has set for holding a relatively fair and free contest to be accepted, is sacking of the head of the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC), Azizullah Lodin.Among the "minimum conditions" Mr Abdullah has set for holding a relatively fair and free contest to be accepted, is sacking of the head of the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC), Azizullah Lodin.
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 AbdullahKARZAI 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
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.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.
"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 IEC 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 ECC 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.