Karzai 'to face second round of voting'
Hamid Karzai may face second round of voting following investigations into the national elections
Also In The News
|
By James Christie
Rafael Nadal's quest for his first tournament victory since April continues after he was beaten 7-6, 6-3 by Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in the final of the Shanghai Masters. |  |
Monday, 19, Oct 2009 04:25
By Richard James.
Afghanistan's incumbent president Hamid Karzai may have to face a second round of voting following investigations into the recent national elections.
The United Nations-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) has ordered ballots from 210 polling stations to be thrown out.
The commission claims to have found "clear and convincing evidence of fraud" at polling stations across the country.
Reports suggest the decision may mean Mr Karzai will now fail to achieve the 50 per cent of votes required to claim victory.
The elections in August have been marred by allegations of vote-rigging and fraud.
Provisional results handed Mr Karzai victory but he may now have to face a second round of voting against main rival Abdullah Abdullah.
The controversy surrounding the national election has seen public support in Britain and the US for the ongoing military campaign against the Taliban waver.
The allegations have also seen tensions rise between Mr Karzai and western governments whose troops are currently fighting in the country.
Supporters of Mr Karzai have also criticised the electoral commission's handling of the allegations of fraud.
"The campaign office of Hamid Karzai criticises the formula [used by the commission] for dealing with suspect votes," Mohammad Moin Marastyal, a member of the Afghan parliament, is quoted as saying.
"This [procedure] is not correct and this has brought down Karzai's tally. Effort has been made to lower Karzai's vote to below 50 (per cent). Now we are in a deadlock."
Britain recently pledged an extra 500 troops to the offensive in Afghanistan, however, the United States has yet to confirm any further deployments until the result of the election is finalised.
US president Barack Obama has been urged by military commanders to send an extra 40,000 troops to help in the campaign which has now entered its ninth year.