Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah apears all set to reject preliminary election results released earlier today, heightening a political crisis that threatens to trigger greater instability as US-led troops pull out.
Abdullah, previously seen as the election front-runner, alleges that he was the victim of “industrial-scale” ballot-box stuffing on June 14 and has vowed not to recognise the vote count.
His poll rival Ashraf Ghani, who was reported to be at least one million votes ahead, says the result is fair and must not be further delayed.
The United Nations and Afghanistan´s international backers had lobbied hard to try to ensure a smooth election process, but the contested outcome will realise their worst fears and raises the risk of all out civil unrest.
Influential US Senator Carl Levin, on a visit to Kabul, told reporters on Sunday that the preliminary result would likely be followed by an audit of suspicious votes in an attempt to assuage Abdullah´s fears of fraud.
“I expect that (there) is going to be an agreement on a comprehensive audit,” Levin, chairman of the Senate committee on armed services, said.
“We have assurances (the candidates) will accept the outcome of such an audit.”After the preliminary result on Monday, the official result is scheduled for July 24 after a period for adjudication of complaints.
The deadlock coming at the time when NATO is pulling its forces out of the restive country may trigger all out anarchy.
