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Afghans await presidential election results amid fraud claims Afghans await presidential election results amid fraud claims
(about 1 hour later)
Afghans will finally get preliminary results from their presidential election on Monday – more than three weeks after they went to the polls – but the numbers may only deepen a crisis about who should take over from Hamid Karzai next month. Afghans will finally get preliminary results from their presidential election on Monday – more than three weeks after they went to the polls – but the numbers may only deepen a crisis about who should take over from Hamid Karzai next month.
The figures from the 14 June run-off vote will put former World Bank technocrat Ashraf Ghani clearly in the lead, his supporters and opponents both agree. The dispute that has paralysed the country since the euphoria of a relatively safe election day first dissipated centres on how he came by such a commanding victory. The figures from the 14 June runoff vote will put former World Bank technocrat Ashraf Ghani clearly in the lead, his supporters and opponents agree. The dispute that has paralysed the country since the euphoria of a relatively safe election day first dissipated centres on how he came by such a commanding victory.
Abdullah Abdullah, the former mujahideen doctor who faced off against Ghani, claims that 2m of the votes cast for his rival are fake. He has officially withdrawn from the vote-counting process, demanding stricter auditing of potentially suspicious votes.Abdullah Abdullah, the former mujahideen doctor who faced off against Ghani, claims that 2m of the votes cast for his rival are fake. He has officially withdrawn from the vote-counting process, demanding stricter auditing of potentially suspicious votes.
Ghani's team says that he mobilised clerics, provided transport for would-be voters, and persuaded many men from his own Pashtun ethnic group to break with conservative tradition and let their wives, sisters and daughters cast ballots for the first time. Ghani's team says that he mobilised clerics, provided transport for would-be voters and persuaded many men from his own Pashtun ethnic group to break with conservative tradition and let their wives, sisters and daughters cast ballots for the first time.
Election authorities had already delayed announcing the winner to check results from nearly 2,000 polling stations for fraud, but both Abdullah and independent observers have called for stricter checks in over a quarter of voting sites. Election authorities had already delayed announcing the winner to check results from nearly 2,000 polling stations for fraud, but both Abdullah and independent observers have called for stricter checks in more than a quarter of voting sites.
European Union election observers have suggested checks on all voting stations with 595 of 600 possible votes cast – at present only 599 out of the 600 votes issued to each station triggers an audit – and areas with unusual ratios of male and female voters.European Union election observers have suggested checks on all voting stations with 595 of 600 possible votes cast – at present only 599 out of the 600 votes issued to each station triggers an audit – and areas with unusual ratios of male and female voters.
Members of both Abdullah and Ghani's campaign teams stayed up until the small hours of Sunday morning trying to agree terms for further fraud checks, but spokesmen for both said they failed to reach a deal. Members of Abdullah and Ghani's campaign teams stayed up until the small hours of Sunday morning trying to agree terms for further fraud checks, but spokesmen for both said they had failed to reach a deal.
There are another two weeks allowed for further fraud checks, before final results are announced on 24 July. The new president is due to be sworn into office on 2 August. There are another two weeks allowed for further fraud checks before final results are announced on 24 July. The new president is due to be sworn into office on 2 August.
Invitations have already been sent out and both Karzai and Ghani say the country cannot afford further delays; Abdullah argues that a clean result is more important than sticking to a timeline.Invitations have already been sent out and both Karzai and Ghani say the country cannot afford further delays; Abdullah argues that a clean result is more important than sticking to a timeline.
Afghan power brokers and foreign diplomats have been holding meetings with both camps to try to resolve a crisis that many fear could destabilise the entire country; it has already throttled the fragile economy and put at risk long-term military support from Nato. Afghan power brokers and foreign diplomats have been holding meetings with both camps to try to resolve a crisis that many fear could destabilise the country; it has already throttled the fragile economy and put at risk long-term military support from Nato.
The dispute has also stirred up old ethnic tensions and fears of violence. The debate has got so vicious that the government considered blocking Facebook while the results were being settled, though ultimately backed away from a ban.The dispute has also stirred up old ethnic tensions and fears of violence. The debate has got so vicious that the government considered blocking Facebook while the results were being settled, though ultimately backed away from a ban.