Pressure grows in Afghanistan for Hamid Karzai to strike a deal

[maddezmom]

Source: The Observer

Pressure grows in Afghanistan for Hamid Karzai to strike a dealMore results show president above crucial 50% of vote, but UN-backed electoral commission orders growing number of recounts
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More than three weeks have passed since Afghans voted for a new president, but the chaotic count has been marred by allegations of widespread irregularities including phantom polling stations and stuffed ballot boxes. Most appear to favour Karzai. Yesterday the election commission announced a sliver of fresh results that suggest Karzai is on course to win. With 93% of votes counted the incumbent has 54% support versus 28% for Abdullah, his former foreign minister.

But the UN-backed electoral complaints commission, which adjudicates on disputes, has disqualified votes from 83 polling stations and ordered a recount in parts of three provinces thought to be favourable to Karzai. Votes from 600 stations have been quarantined.

If Karzai's share of the vote dips below 50%, a run-off vote will be necessary. The UN stressed that the contest was not over. "There are no winners in this election yet," said spokesman Aleem Siddique.

But western officials privately admit that a run-off vote is well nigh impossible at this stage. The fraud investigations could take weeks and the bitter winter is approaching, making it impossible to hold a fresh poll until the spring. That places Afghanistan in a perilous political limbo as violence spreads across the country.

In the absence of an undisputed winner, western allies are likely to ratchet up pressure on Karzai and Abdullah to strike a deal for a coalition or national unity government in the coming weeks. But so far both candidates have maintained hardline positions.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/13/hamid-karzai-power-sharing-afghanistan

[mbperrin]

1. Well, mission accomplished! US style elections are in!

All Karzi baby has to do now is appeal to the Supremes to stop the count, and we're complete!