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Afghan leader backs calls for probe into election fraud

© RIA Novosti . Sergey Guneev / Go to the mediabank"Of course, if fraud has been committed it must be investigated, but investigated fairly and without prejudice"
Of course, if fraud has been committed it must be investigated, but investigated fairly and without prejudice - Sputnik International
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President Hamid Karzai on Thursday played down claims that the recent election in Afghanistan was flawed, but said he supported a probe into possible violations.

KABUL, September 17 (RIA Novosti) - President Hamid Karzai on Thursday played down claims that the recent election in Afghanistan was flawed, but said he supported a probe into possible violations.

With all ballots counted, the Afghan Central Election Commission said on Wednesday that the incumbent leader garnered 54.62% of the vote in the August 20 election.

"Of course, if fraud has been committed it must be investigated, but investigated fairly and without prejudice," Karzai told a news conference in Kabul.

Afghanistan's Chief electoral officer, Daud Najafi, said the winner of the presidential race will be announced only after the commission investigating voting irregularities has completed its work. A large number of complaints have been filed with the commission, and more than 200,000 ballots have already been rejected.

Najafi said 5,662,758 valid ballots were cast, with Karzai receiving 3,093,256 votes against 1,571,581 (27.75%) for his nearest rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah. Ramazan Bashardost came third with 520,627 votes (9.1%).

Turnout was 38.7% of the 15,295,016 eligible voters.

The final election results will be announced after all investigations into election fraud have been completed.

 

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