Fraud declared in Afghanistan election by UN investigators

Kazakhstan News.Net
Monday 19th October, 2009

The UN backed commission investigating fraud in the Afghan presidential poll has ordered the invalidation of results from 210 polling stations.

A second round of voting may now be on the cards, after evidence discoverd by the Electoral Complaints Commission.

The Commission has said it discovered clear and convincing evidence of fraud after its nearly two-month-long investigation into Afghanistan's August 20th poll.

A certain percentage of each candidate's votes have been ordered to be scapped by the commission.

UN officials have said they are now expecting an announcement from the Independent Election Commission of a final certified result or the requirement for a second round of voting.

Preliminary results from the election showed Afghan President Hamid Karzai winning with 54 percent.

His nearest rival, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, had 28 percent.

Karzai officials have said they will await a ruling from election officials before making a statement.

Mr Karzai's election team has previously criticised the Electoral Complaints Commission procedure for collecting voting information.

Most of the fraudulent ballots are believed to benefit the Afghan president.

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