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| Afghan Candidate Vows Again to Reject Results | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — The presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah once more brought Afghanistan’s troubled electoral process to the brink on Monday, insisting that he had won the disputed vote and vowing to reject any government formed on the basis of it. | |
| An audit of 100 percent of the ballots cast in the June runoff election is expected to conclude this week, and nearly all observers expect Mr. Abdullah’s opponent, Ashraf Ghani, to be declared the winner. | An audit of 100 percent of the ballots cast in the June runoff election is expected to conclude this week, and nearly all observers expect Mr. Abdullah’s opponent, Ashraf Ghani, to be declared the winner. |
| Mr. Abdullah’s supporters have been suggesting that he form a parallel government, which Western diplomats have worried could lead to disorder or even civil war. But Mr. Abdullah made no mention of a parallel government in a speech to his top officials, running mates and supporters, or at a brief news conference afterward, and did not ask his supporters to take to the streets to protest the results. | Mr. Abdullah’s supporters have been suggesting that he form a parallel government, which Western diplomats have worried could lead to disorder or even civil war. But Mr. Abdullah made no mention of a parallel government in a speech to his top officials, running mates and supporters, or at a brief news conference afterward, and did not ask his supporters to take to the streets to protest the results. |
| Nor did he explicitly repudiate his signature on an agreement, brokered by Secretary of State John Kerry during a visit here in August, to accept the results of the audit and cooperate in forming a national unity government, which would give crucial positions to the losing side as well. | |
| “I will not accept fraud and any result from fraudulent votes,” Mr. Abdullah said. “Not even for a single day will we accept a government based on fraudulent votes.” | “I will not accept fraud and any result from fraudulent votes,” Mr. Abdullah said. “Not even for a single day will we accept a government based on fraudulent votes.” |
| But Mr. Abdullah, a former foreign minister who was the runner-up to President Hamid Karzai in the 2009 presidential election, did not say what concrete steps he will take if Mr. Ghani is declared the winner. And although he said talks over forming a national unity government were deadlocked, he did not rule out resuming them. | But Mr. Abdullah, a former foreign minister who was the runner-up to President Hamid Karzai in the 2009 presidential election, did not say what concrete steps he will take if Mr. Ghani is declared the winner. And although he said talks over forming a national unity government were deadlocked, he did not rule out resuming them. |
| On Saturday, President Obama telephoned both candidates, urging them to resolve their differences. “The president emphasized the importance of concluding a deal on the national unity government as soon as possible in the interest of shoring up international support for Afghanistan and preserving Afghan stability,” a White House news release said. | |
| After Mr. Abdullah’s declaration on Monday that he would not accept the results of the audit, or any government based on it, members of the Ghani camp expressed concern but said they were still willing to negotiate. | After Mr. Abdullah’s declaration on Monday that he would not accept the results of the audit, or any government based on it, members of the Ghani camp expressed concern but said they were still willing to negotiate. |
| “We are surprised and worried about the position he took today, which is against all the commitments that he made,” said Zaher Zuhair, a spokesman for Mr. Ghani. Nonetheless, he said, “our position is that the door to negotiations should be kept open so we can resolve our electoral problems through dialogue.” | “We are surprised and worried about the position he took today, which is against all the commitments that he made,” said Zaher Zuhair, a spokesman for Mr. Ghani. Nonetheless, he said, “our position is that the door to negotiations should be kept open so we can resolve our electoral problems through dialogue.” |
| Mr. Zuhair also noted that both candidates met as recently as Monday morning for negotiations. | Mr. Zuhair also noted that both candidates met as recently as Monday morning for negotiations. |
| Supporters of Mr. Abdullah, who was the leading vote-getter by a large margin in the first round of voting, had accused the Ghani campaign and Mr. Karzai’s government of industrial-scale fraud that gave Mr. Ghani a wide lead in preliminary results of the runoff. He and Mr. Ghani agreed to a United Nations-supervised audit of the vote. | Supporters of Mr. Abdullah, who was the leading vote-getter by a large margin in the first round of voting, had accused the Ghani campaign and Mr. Karzai’s government of industrial-scale fraud that gave Mr. Ghani a wide lead in preliminary results of the runoff. He and Mr. Ghani agreed to a United Nations-supervised audit of the vote. |
| Although supporters of Mr. Abdullah have staged noisy demonstrations, Mr. Abdullah on Monday called on them to avoid violence. | Although supporters of Mr. Abdullah have staged noisy demonstrations, Mr. Abdullah on Monday called on them to avoid violence. |
| That would be a particular concern on Tuesday, a national holiday in honor of Ahmed Shah Massoud, the leader of the Northern Alliance who was assassinated by Al Qaeda on Sept. 9, 2001. Mr. Abdullah was a key aide to the slain leader. In past years, motorcades and parades in honor of Mr. Massoud have erupted in violent clashes with rival ethnic and political groups. | That would be a particular concern on Tuesday, a national holiday in honor of Ahmed Shah Massoud, the leader of the Northern Alliance who was assassinated by Al Qaeda on Sept. 9, 2001. Mr. Abdullah was a key aide to the slain leader. In past years, motorcades and parades in honor of Mr. Massoud have erupted in violent clashes with rival ethnic and political groups. |
| Most, although not all, former Northern Alliance activists are supporters of Mr. Abdullah. Two of Mr. Massoud’s brothers are active in the presidential campaign: Ahmed Zia Massoud is supporting Mr. Ghani, and Ahmed Wali Massoud is backing Mr. Abdullah. | Most, although not all, former Northern Alliance activists are supporters of Mr. Abdullah. Two of Mr. Massoud’s brothers are active in the presidential campaign: Ahmed Zia Massoud is supporting Mr. Ghani, and Ahmed Wali Massoud is backing Mr. Abdullah. |
| “Don’t mix up the political crisis with the events of tomorrow and the commemoration of Martyrs’ Day,” Mr. Abdullah said Monday. “Our campaign does not support or condone violence.” | “Don’t mix up the political crisis with the events of tomorrow and the commemoration of Martyrs’ Day,” Mr. Abdullah said Monday. “Our campaign does not support or condone violence.” |