Afghan presidential vote leader Ghani backs poll audit
12 July BBC
Ashraf Ghani, one of two candidates disputing the Afghan presidential
election, says he backs an “extensive audit” of votes.
He made the comments before meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry,
who arrived in Kabul to try to resolve a growing political crisis. Mr
Kerry is also meeting Mr Ghani's rival Abdullah Abdullah.Mr Ghani came
out ahead in preliminary results from the second round, but both
candidates allege fraud.The audit would help ensure the “integrity and
the legitimacy that the people of Afghanistan and the world will believe
in,” Mr Ghani said.
The announcement was welcomed by Mr Kerry, who arrived in Afghanistan
on Friday in a hastily arranged visit.ÓNo-one is declaring victory at
this time. The results have yet to be finalised and so those questions
have to be resolved and I'm very appreciative that Dr Ghani respects
that” he said.Current President Hamid Karzai, who took power after the
US-led overthrow of the Taliban, is stepping down after more than 10
years.Secretary of State John Kerry's visit is “critical” in ensuring
the election authorities deliver a credible result which is “broadly
acceptable” to the Afghan people.In mathematical terms that means
pushing for a much broader audit of votes - beyond the 3 million
currently identified. In diplomatic terms it means finding a way through
the fog of mistrust so that both sides start working together.
When earlier this week Abdullah Abdullah faced pressure from his
supporters to declare a parallel government, the US quickly responded by
warning that such an act would trigger the suspension of aid and
security assistance.Mr Abdullah pulled back from the brink but he will
have to show his frustrated followers that the meeting with John Kerry
has broadened the scope of the audit to prevent them spilling onto the
streets - angry and armed.
Ashraf Ghani will be looking for some lines in the sand. One of his
close aides told me they would continue to co-operate with the election
authorities but feared that the “cascading demands” of Abdullah's side -
was simply a “delaying tactic. They're looking to John Kerry to manage
that.The US has been concerned at reports that Mr Abdullah, who
preliminary results suggest lost the election, is planning a “parallel
government”.Results announced by Afghanistan's election officials give
Mr Ghani 56.44% of votes in the 14 June run-off, with Mr Abdullah
gaining 43.45%.The results were markedly different from those achieved
in the first round of voting, held in April.In that round, Mr Abdullah
fell just short of an outright majority, with 44.9%, with Mr Ghani
second at 31.5%.Votes are already being re-checked at more than 7,000
polling stations - nearly a third of the total number.
Correspondents say recounts could significantly alter the final
result, due on 22 July.The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan has
warned it will be “premature” for either side to claim victory.There are
also concerns about a further deterioration in the security situation.
Taliban militants have been testing the limits of the Afghan army in
recent weeks, with a major offensive in the southern province of
Helmand.The withdrawal of foreign troops by the end of this year will be
the litmus test of whether more than a decade of training and investment
in building up Afghanistan's own security forces has paid off,
correspondents say.
President Barack Obama has said the US remained committed to
Afghanistan provided the incoming president signed a security
agreement.Both Mr Abdullah and Mr Ghani have said they are committed to
signing the deal with the US that would allow a small force to stay on. |