Attacks kill dozens; Afghans await poll results

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

KABUL (Reuters) - Roadside bombs killed 20 civilians in southern Afghanistan and fighters killed 11 policemen and six private guards in attacks, officials said on Saturday as the country awaited results from last month's disputed election.

Violence in Afghanistan has reached its worst levels of the eight-year-old war despite record levels of U.S. and NATO troops being sent to fight the Taliban.

The country remains mired in a drawn-out dispute over election fraud that could test the patience of U.S. President Barack Obama and other Western leaders contemplating whether more troops are needed to defend its government.

Election authorities were due to give near-complete preliminary results from the August 20 presidential election later on Saturday, although a final outcome will still await the results of a fraud investigation that could take months.

Results so far show incumbent Hamid Karzai headed for a single round victory, which could be challenged by a U.N.-backed watchdog that says it has found proof of fraud and has begun voiding ballots from areas where Karzai won overwhelming support.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/12/AR2009091200817.html

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. Good thing the USA went in there to settle things down, eh?

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