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Afghan Officials Say Claims of Victory Are Prematu
Date: 8/21/2009 Sender: CDP
Afghan Officials Say Claims of Victory Are Premature

By VOA News
21 August 2009

Election worker counts ballots in Mazar-I-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, 20 Aug 2009
The campaigns of the two top candidates in Afghanistan＇s presidential election are both claiming victory.

Campaign officials for President Hamid Karzai say the president＇s lead is big enough that a run-off vote will not be necessary.

And a spokesman for Mr. Karzai＇s closest challenger, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, claim he has a definitive edge.

But Independent Election Commission Secretary-General Daoud Ali Najafi says not all the votes have been counted and that preliminary results will not be announced for several days.

In the first major assessment from election observers, the U.S.-funded International Republican Institute said Friday that the election has been "credible." But Richard Williamson, who led the observer delegation in Afghanistan, also said there were serious problems.

He said poor security had an impact on voter turnout, and that there are credible reports of voter registration cards being sold. Williamson also said there appeared to be problems with the indelible ink used to keep voters from casting more than one ballot.

Despite the threat of Taliban attacks, Afghan voters cast ballots Thursday in the country＇s second presidential election. Violence in Kabul, Kandahar and other major cities killed at least 26 people.

There are concerns that low voter turnout will damage the election＇s credibility and undermine support for the winner.

Officials in northern Afghanistan said Friday at least some of the ballots were intercepted by militants. Election authorities say they are investigating reports of ballot-stuffing and faulty voting equipment.

Also Friday, Britain said two of its troops were killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Thursday.

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