Deepening fraud dispute delays presidential election results in Afghanistan

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/01/deepening-fraud-dispute-delays-presidential-election-results-in-afghanistan/



Deepening fraud dispute delays presidential election results in Afghanistan
By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, July 1, 2014 16:28 EDT

Kabul (AFP) – Afghanistan’s presidential election result has been delayed for several days, officials said Tuesday, as a dispute over alleged fraud threatens to derail the country’s first democratic transfer of power.

Abdullah Abdullah, reported to be far behind in the vote count, welcomed the delay and called for an anti-fraud audit that could trigger a prolonged political stalemate as US-led combat troops end their 13-year war against the Taliban.

The United Nations and donor countries have been trying for months to prevent a contested election outcome, fearing a messy power struggle that could fuel ethnic unrest.

But with Abdullah and his poll rival Ashraf Ghani at loggerheads, many fear the deadlock could tip Afghanistan into street protests and uncertainty.