World

Afghan fraud tainted vote - Karzai reaches 50%

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | September 8, 2009 at 06:16 am

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With nearly 92% of the ballots counted, President Hamid Karzai has reached the threshold of 50%. In fact he has reached 54%.

A UN backed commission has ordered a recount of some polls where clear and convincing evidence exists that there was fraud.

If Hamid Karzai gains more than 50% of the vote, he would avoid a run-off election. His top challenger is Abdullah Abdullah. The legitimacy of the vote is in doubt due to widespread allegations of ballot stuffing.

According to Grant Kippen, Chair of the UN backed Electoral Complaint Commission, there are questionable results in Khandahar, Ghazni and Paktika provinces. These polls show 100% electorate turnout with one of the candidates receiving 95% of the vote.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has 54 per cent of the vote with almost all of the ballots counted in the country's presidential poll, but a United Nations-backed commission has ordered a recount of some polling stations after finding "clear and convincing evidence of fraud."

Afghanistan's election commission said Karzai has passed the 50 per cent threshold for the first time, with nearly 92 per cent of the votes counted. If Karzai wins a majority, he would avoid a run-off with top challenger Abdullah Abdullah.

However, widespread allegations of ballot-box stuffing and suspicious tallies are threatening the legitimacy of the Aug. 20 vote as the country awaits final results.

Grant Kippen, chair of the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission, said Tuesday it had identified questionable results in Ghazni, Paktika and Kandahar provinces in stations showing 100 per cent turnout or with a presidential candidate receiving more than 95 per cent of the vote.