afgan
Afghanistan’s electoral commission has rejected results from hundreds of presidential polling stations due to “irregularities”.

The count has been marred by fraud allegations – mostly from opponents of Harmid Karzai, who is seeking re-election as president.



With almost three-quarters of the results tallied, Mr Karzai has nearly 49% of the vote and his closest rival, Abdullah Abdullah, has 31%.
Mr Karzai must get more than 50% in order to avoid a run-off.

But the Independent Election Commission (IEC) has thrown out results from 447 voting sites because of irregularities.
The winner was not expected to be announced until later this month, after the IEC has investigated more than 650 claims of serious violations during, and after, the August 20 vote.
They include allegations by Mr Abdullah that Mr Karzai’s supporters stuffed ballot boxes with tens of thousands of votes.
The commission has the power to nullify the results from districts or provinces, or even call for a new election, if it finds large-scale fraud.

Mr Abdullah, the country’s former foreign minister, urged the commission to stop announcing preliminary results because of “highly suspicious numbers” in tallies released so far.
“It is state-engineered fraud. It is not violations here and there,” Mr Abdullah said, claiming polling officials were loyal to Mr Karzai, who appointed them.
Commission chairman Daoud Ali Najafi insisted the commission was unbiased.
“The Independent Election Commission has been completely impartial in fulfilling its duties throughout the process,” he said.
International and Afghan observers were critical of the August 20 vote but have withheld judgment until counting and fraud investigations are complete.

see more:http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Afghanistan-Electoral-Commission-Annuls-Some-Votes-After-Polling-Station-Irregularities/Article/200909115375904?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15375904_Afghanistan_Electoral_Commission_Annuls_Some_Votes_After_Polling_Station_Irregularities