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| In Afghanistan, U.N. fears for the safety of its staff amid growing threats of violence | In Afghanistan, U.N. fears for the safety of its staff amid growing threats of violence |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| KABUL — The United Nations is debating whether to withdraw its staff from one of Afghanistan’s largest and safest cities as concerns grow that a deadlock between the country’s two presidential candidates could lead to unrest. | KABUL — The United Nations is debating whether to withdraw its staff from one of Afghanistan’s largest and safest cities as concerns grow that a deadlock between the country’s two presidential candidates could lead to unrest. |
| In a series of stern statements Saturday, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said it is facing increasing threats as it supervises a recount of votes in Afghanistan’s contentious presidential runoff. | |
| The process has been marred by disputes between Ashraf Ghani, who is expected to prevail, and Abdullah Abdullah, the likely second-place finisher, over plans for forming a U.S.-backed coalition government. | |
| The tension has persisted for weeks, heightening concerns about the country’s ability to complete its first transition from one democratically elected government to another. | The tension has persisted for weeks, heightening concerns about the country’s ability to complete its first transition from one democratically elected government to another. |
| This month, Abdullah withdrew his support for the recount, alleging that it had failed to uncover hundreds of thousands of fraudulent ballots. And on Friday, dozens of his supporters protested in Kabul with derogatory signs directed at Jan Kubis, the chief of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. | This month, Abdullah withdrew his support for the recount, alleging that it had failed to uncover hundreds of thousands of fraudulent ballots. And on Friday, dozens of his supporters protested in Kabul with derogatory signs directed at Jan Kubis, the chief of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. |
| “Intimidation and verbal attacks directed at #UN are not acceptable,” the mission tweeted Saturday. “Threats against #UN = threats against entire international community. If such abuse continues, #UN will be forced to severely limit its activities, reducing its assistance to #Afghanistan and its people.” | |
| One immediate ramification could be the withdrawal of U.N. personnel from Mazar-e Sharif, the largest city in northern Afghanistan, officials said. | One immediate ramification could be the withdrawal of U.N. personnel from Mazar-e Sharif, the largest city in northern Afghanistan, officials said. |
| In recent years, Mazar-e Sharif had been a rare success story in a country that continues to struggle against a Taliban insurgency and chronic poverty. | In recent years, Mazar-e Sharif had been a rare success story in a country that continues to struggle against a Taliban insurgency and chronic poverty. |
| The border city has been relatively free of violence and is one of the country’s chief economic engines. But Mazar-e Sharif could become a major flash point should election-related disturbances erupt. | |
| The city is home to tens of thousands of ethnic Tajiks, who heavily favored Abdullah in the election. | |
| Attah Mohammed Noor, the powerful governor of Balkh province, which includes Mazar-e Sharif, has repeatedly vowed he would lead “a big civil uprising” should Abdullah be denied the presidency because of perceived fraud. | |
| The U.N. mission stressed that “consultations are ongoing” and that no final decisions have been made about its future presence in northern Afghanistan. Yet the fact that a U.N. pullout is even up for discussion reflects the unease within the organization after Friday’s protest. | The U.N. mission stressed that “consultations are ongoing” and that no final decisions have been made about its future presence in northern Afghanistan. Yet the fact that a U.N. pullout is even up for discussion reflects the unease within the organization after Friday’s protest. |
| Fazul Rahman Oria, an Abdullah spokesman, denied that the campaign had organized the protest and condemned any effort to intimidate the United Nations. | Fazul Rahman Oria, an Abdullah spokesman, denied that the campaign had organized the protest and condemned any effort to intimidate the United Nations. |
| “Maybe the Ghani team or Afghan government organized yesterday’s protest to defame us,” Oria said. “Or maybe it was just independent people.” | “Maybe the Ghani team or Afghan government organized yesterday’s protest to defame us,” Oria said. “Or maybe it was just independent people.” |
| There have been concerns about election-related violence since this summer, when Secretary of State John F. Kerry rushed to Kabul to broker an agreement between Abdullah and Ghani. | There have been concerns about election-related violence since this summer, when Secretary of State John F. Kerry rushed to Kabul to broker an agreement between Abdullah and Ghani. |
| Under the agreement, when the U.N.-supervised recount was completed, the first-place finisher was to become president, with the second-place finisher filling a newly created chief executive position. | Under the agreement, when the U.N.-supervised recount was completed, the first-place finisher was to become president, with the second-place finisher filling a newly created chief executive position. |
| In recent weeks, however, Ghani and Abdullah have differed on what powers each would wield in the government. | In recent weeks, however, Ghani and Abdullah have differed on what powers each would wield in the government. |
| In response, outgoing President Hamid Karzai and U.S. officials have been increasing the pressure on both candidates to quickly resolve their differences. Karzai met with both candidates Saturday morning, but there was no major breakthrough in the talks, said Mohammad Mohaqiq, one of Abdullah’s two vice-presidential running mates. | In response, outgoing President Hamid Karzai and U.S. officials have been increasing the pressure on both candidates to quickly resolve their differences. Karzai met with both candidates Saturday morning, but there was no major breakthrough in the talks, said Mohammad Mohaqiq, one of Abdullah’s two vice-presidential running mates. |
| Abdullah thinks the new chief executive should chair cabinet meetings. Ghani argues that the country’s constitution empowers the president to oversee the cabinet. | Abdullah thinks the new chief executive should chair cabinet meetings. Ghani argues that the country’s constitution empowers the president to oversee the cabinet. |
| If the two sides fail to come to an agreement in the coming days, Mohaqiq said, the Abdullah campaign will try its “level best to control and manage the people if the election result does not go their way.” | If the two sides fail to come to an agreement in the coming days, Mohaqiq said, the Abdullah campaign will try its “level best to control and manage the people if the election result does not go their way.” |
| “But it’s really difficult to stop the people and their sentiments and attitudes toward the leadership in this entire process,” Mohaqiq said, adding that he doubts that Ghani could command universal loyalty from the police and military should he try to assume power without including Abdullah as an equal partner. | “But it’s really difficult to stop the people and their sentiments and attitudes toward the leadership in this entire process,” Mohaqiq said, adding that he doubts that Ghani could command universal loyalty from the police and military should he try to assume power without including Abdullah as an equal partner. |
| Sharif Hassan contributed to this report. | Sharif Hassan contributed to this report. |