'Deadlock" as Karzai Rejects UN Fraud Verdict

[tekisui]

Source: Times Online

President Karzai is refusing to accept the result of a UN-led probe into vote-rigging in Afghanistan's presidential election and a senior aide said today that the crisis had reached a "deadlock".

Mohammad Moin Marastyal, an Afghan MP and leading member of Mr Karzai’s campaign team. said that the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) had twisted the facts in a deliberate attempt to trigger a run-off vote.

“Effort has been made to lower Karzai’s vote to below 50 per cent," Mr Marastyal said. "Now we are in a deadlock.”

The election was tainted by allegations of widespread fraud and has fanned tension between Mr Karzai and his former allies in the West.

The White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel warned yesterday that President Obama would delay a decision on whether to commit up to 40,000 extra American troops to the conflict until the election crisis pans out and it becomes clear whether there's "an Afghan partner" worth fighting for.

The ECC said that it would finally unveil its verdict on Afghanistan’s disputed vote later today after weeks of uncertainty. The official tally gave Mr Karzai about 55 per cent of the vote, enough for him to avoid a second round of voting against his former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, but the ECC report is said to cut that to below 50 per cent.

more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6880658.ece

[tekisui]

1. Karzai 'stripped of outright win'

A panel probing fraud claims in the Afghan election has found Hamid Karzai did not gain enough valid votes for an outright win, the BBC understands.

Preliminary results from August's first round had placed Mr Karzai comfortably over the 50% plus one vote threshold needed to avoid a run-off.

But officials have told the BBC the Electoral Complaints Commission (EEC) says Mr Karzai did not win above 50%.

Mr Karzai could now face a second round against main rival Abdullah Abdullah.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8314613.stm