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Saturday, April 26, 2014

Afghan elections head to second round after no candidate gains an absolute ... - Telegraph.co.uk


The final results will not be announced until May 14, because officials must investigate up to half a million votes suspected of being fraudulent.


Even if they are counted, it is highly unlikely to give Mr Abdullah the absolute majority he needs to avoid a run-off.


"I think we are prepared and if it goes to second round yes we think it is doable and we have a tentative schedule of June 7 to start the second round," Mr Nuristani said.


Eight men ran in the election, which was hailed a success by Afghan officials and foreign allies, because the Taliban failed to launch a major attack despite threats to disrupt the vote.


"The election went pretty good, we are satisfied with it and I think we are prepared if it goes to the second round," Mr Nuristani said.


Mr Nuristani said nearly seven million people voted in the April 5 election out of an estimated electorate of 13.5 million. Of those who voted, 36 per cent were female.


The United Nations' mission in Afghanistan welcomed the results, but warned election officials that they must address all complaints "in a professional, expeditious and open manner" to safeguard the election process.


The 2009 election, when Mr Karzai retained power, was marred by fraud, leading to a sharp decline in relations with the United States.


Mr Karzai, who has ruled since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, is constitutionally barred from serving a third term.


Whoever wins will have to oversee the fight against the Taliban’s insurgency as 51,000 foreign troops leave this year, and strengthen an economy reliant on declining aid money.


Both leading candidates have pledged to explore peace talks with the Taliban and sign a deal with the US that would allow 10,000 US troops to stay on after this year on a training and counter-terrorism mission.


Mr Karzai's decision to refuse to sign the bilateral security agreement last year, after agreeing to the draft text, led to a new low in relations between the US and Afghanistan.



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