This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/22/world/asia/protests-in-afghanistan-as-ballot-counting-continues.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Protests in Afghanistan as Ballot Counting Continues | Protests in Afghanistan as Ballot Counting Continues |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — A day after the United Nations agreed to play a role in settling disputes over the vote for a new Afghan president, protesters demonstrated across Kabul, blocking streets in parts of the city and demanding that the government address their accusations of ballot stuffing. | KABUL, Afghanistan — A day after the United Nations agreed to play a role in settling disputes over the vote for a new Afghan president, protesters demonstrated across Kabul, blocking streets in parts of the city and demanding that the government address their accusations of ballot stuffing. |
| The protests intensified a political crisis that has been brewing in the country ever since voters cast their ballots last Saturday in the runoff election to replace President Hamid Karzai. | The protests intensified a political crisis that has been brewing in the country ever since voters cast their ballots last Saturday in the runoff election to replace President Hamid Karzai. |
| Abdullah Abdullah, a former foreign minister who won the first round by a wide margin, accuses his opponent, Ashraf Ghani, and Mr. Karzai of engineering a widespread fraud to rob him of the presidency. Mr. Abdullah has said he will boycott the vote-counting and adjudication process. His supporters say that any results produced by the Afghan electoral commission will not be acceptable. | Abdullah Abdullah, a former foreign minister who won the first round by a wide margin, accuses his opponent, Ashraf Ghani, and Mr. Karzai of engineering a widespread fraud to rob him of the presidency. Mr. Abdullah has said he will boycott the vote-counting and adjudication process. His supporters say that any results produced by the Afghan electoral commission will not be acceptable. |
| If their goal was to shut down Kabul with a show of force, the protests appeared to fall short. Several demonstrations were organized across the city but none exceeded 1,500 people, despite whispers that tens of thousands might turn up. Indeed, most drew fewer than 500 men. | If their goal was to shut down Kabul with a show of force, the protests appeared to fall short. Several demonstrations were organized across the city but none exceeded 1,500 people, despite whispers that tens of thousands might turn up. Indeed, most drew fewer than 500 men. |
| Although the protests were largely peaceful, some demonstrators said that their patience was wearing thin. | Although the protests were largely peaceful, some demonstrators said that their patience was wearing thin. |
| “The people’s rights must be given to them, and we will continue our protest,” said Abdul Jalil, a protester outside the Kabul International Airport. “If our demands are not addressed, the only way to take back our rights is to fight and take a gun and choose our president.” | |
| For now, the vote counting has continued despite Mr. Abdullah’s protests, although the Independent Electoral Commission has agreed to temporarily delay an announcement about the partial results that are expected on Saturday. | For now, the vote counting has continued despite Mr. Abdullah’s protests, although the Independent Electoral Commission has agreed to temporarily delay an announcement about the partial results that are expected on Saturday. |
| In a heavily armed country with a history of violence — often along ethnic lines — the prospect of a prolonged political crisis has stirred fears that such protests could turn bloody. Western hopes for a clean election to usher in a new era for the nation, without the presence of foreign combat troops, have been largely battered by the deadlock. | In a heavily armed country with a history of violence — often along ethnic lines — the prospect of a prolonged political crisis has stirred fears that such protests could turn bloody. Western hopes for a clean election to usher in a new era for the nation, without the presence of foreign combat troops, have been largely battered by the deadlock. |
| That fear, in part, prompted Mr. Karzai to announce on Friday that he would welcome the help of the United Nations in mediating the process, a surprising turnaround for a president whose last years in office have been marked by his derision of the country’s Western allies and the United Nations. | That fear, in part, prompted Mr. Karzai to announce on Friday that he would welcome the help of the United Nations in mediating the process, a surprising turnaround for a president whose last years in office have been marked by his derision of the country’s Western allies and the United Nations. |
| On Saturday, the United Nations reiterated that it stood ready to help Afghanistan but would do so only if Afghans took the lead. | On Saturday, the United Nations reiterated that it stood ready to help Afghanistan but would do so only if Afghans took the lead. |
| “We think the most important assistance we can give now is to provide a bridge between those who need to be talking to each other,” said Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations deputy special representative for Afghanistan. “And at least part of the message that we have for them — and have had really since the outset — is that there will be a winner and there will be a loser and what we expect of the candidates is to exhibit statesmanship, not gamesmanship.” | “We think the most important assistance we can give now is to provide a bridge between those who need to be talking to each other,” said Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations deputy special representative for Afghanistan. “And at least part of the message that we have for them — and have had really since the outset — is that there will be a winner and there will be a loser and what we expect of the candidates is to exhibit statesmanship, not gamesmanship.” |
| “But, for all that, it is also important when candidates express concerns and have worries, that one is seen to address them,” Mr. Haysom added. “We will also be looking at ways in which extra scrutiny can be brought to bear on the ballots to give people confidence in the results itself.” | “But, for all that, it is also important when candidates express concerns and have worries, that one is seen to address them,” Mr. Haysom added. “We will also be looking at ways in which extra scrutiny can be brought to bear on the ballots to give people confidence in the results itself.” |
| Ultimately, with the legitimacy of the vote in question, and with Mr. Abdullah taking the stance that no result produced by the current system will be satisfactory, it is unclear how the impasse can be resolved. | Ultimately, with the legitimacy of the vote in question, and with Mr. Abdullah taking the stance that no result produced by the current system will be satisfactory, it is unclear how the impasse can be resolved. |
| The election numbers themselves are difficult to ascertain, not least because there has not been a full census in Afghanistan in more than 30 years. Compounding the problem, about 21 million voter cards have been issued around the country over the last decade, but the estimated number of eligible voters is 13 million. | The election numbers themselves are difficult to ascertain, not least because there has not been a full census in Afghanistan in more than 30 years. Compounding the problem, about 21 million voter cards have been issued around the country over the last decade, but the estimated number of eligible voters is 13 million. |
| The dubiousness surrounding the voter rolls, as much as anything, has fueled Mr. Abdullah’s accusations of widespread fraud in areas of support for Mr. Ghani. Mr. Ghani says a surge in turnout in insecure areas is the product of heavy campaigning, not fraud. | The dubiousness surrounding the voter rolls, as much as anything, has fueled Mr. Abdullah’s accusations of widespread fraud in areas of support for Mr. Ghani. Mr. Ghani says a surge in turnout in insecure areas is the product of heavy campaigning, not fraud. |