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| Afghan poll crisis: Defiant Abdullah claims victory | Afghan poll crisis: Defiant Abdullah claims victory |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Afghan presidential contender Abdullah Abdullah has claimed victory in last month's poll, despite results giving a lead to his rival, Ashraf Ghani. | Afghan presidential contender Abdullah Abdullah has claimed victory in last month's poll, despite results giving a lead to his rival, Ashraf Ghani. |
| Addressing supporters in the capital, Kabul, Mr Abdullah repeated claims that the election was marred by fraud. | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry had earlier warned against a power grab, amid reports that Mr Abdullah was planning a "parallel government". | US Secretary of State John Kerry had earlier warned against a power grab, amid reports that Mr Abdullah was planning a "parallel government". |
| Meanwhile, a bomb near Kabul has killed 16 people, including four Nato troops. | Meanwhile, a bomb near Kabul has killed 16 people, including four Nato troops. |
| Ten civilians and two police officers were also reportedly killed in the attack on a clinic near Bagram, home to the largest US base in the country. | Ten civilians and two police officers were also reportedly killed in the attack on a clinic near Bagram, home to the largest US base in the country. |
| At the scene: BBC correspondent Harun Najafizada, Kabul | At the scene: BBC correspondent Harun Najafizada, Kabul |
| People at the venue where Abdullah Abdullah spoke to his supporters were angry. A crowd tore down a poster of outgoing President Hamid Karzai chanting: "Death to Karzai. Long Live Abdullah!" | People at the venue where Abdullah Abdullah spoke to his supporters were angry. A crowd tore down a poster of outgoing President Hamid Karzai chanting: "Death to Karzai. Long Live Abdullah!" |
| They are appalled at the election results. They believe that massive fraud has happened while President Karzai, the election commission and Ashraf Ghani stood by. | They are appalled at the election results. They believe that massive fraud has happened while President Karzai, the election commission and Ashraf Ghani stood by. |
| So the Abdullah camp have decided to take things into their own hands and he appears to have some support. Several influential figures - governors, district leaders, mayors, and warlords - have come out in his favour. But Afghanistan is a divided country - Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah both command a lot of support. | So the Abdullah camp have decided to take things into their own hands and he appears to have some support. Several influential figures - governors, district leaders, mayors, and warlords - have come out in his favour. But Afghanistan is a divided country - Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah both command a lot of support. |
| Analysts will be very worried. They know that what has been suggested - a parallel government - could affect Afghanistan's stability, economy, security and its relations with the international community. The army across the country is such a divided force that it is difficult to know how it might respond. Everybody recognises this has the making of an electoral crisis. | Analysts will be very worried. They know that what has been suggested - a parallel government - could affect Afghanistan's stability, economy, security and its relations with the international community. The army across the country is such a divided force that it is difficult to know how it might respond. Everybody recognises this has the making of an electoral crisis. |
| Palpable rage among Abdullah supporters | Palpable rage among Abdullah supporters |
| Mr Abdullah told the gathering in Kabul that he would never "accept a fraudulent government". | Mr Abdullah told the gathering in Kabul that he would never "accept a fraudulent government". |
| "We are the winners of this round of elections, without any doubt," he said, to cheers from the crowd. | "We are the winners of this round of elections, without any doubt," he said, to cheers from the crowd. |
| However, he stopped short of declaring a parallel government as his supporters had earlier suggested he might. Instead, he called for a unified country. | However, he stopped short of declaring a parallel government as his supporters had earlier suggested he might. Instead, he called for a unified country. |
| "We don't want civil war, we don't want a crisis," he said. "We want stability, national unity, not division." | "We don't want civil war, we don't want a crisis," he said. "We want stability, national unity, not division." |
| Preliminary results announced on Monday gave Mr Ghani 56.44% of votes in the 14 June run-off. | Preliminary results announced on Monday gave Mr Ghani 56.44% of votes in the 14 June run-off. |
| Mr Abdullah, who fell just short of an outright majority in the first round, had 43.56%. | Mr Abdullah, who fell just short of an outright majority in the first round, had 43.56%. |
| Both men have alleged fraud in the election. Votes are 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. | Correspondents say recounts could significantly alter the final result, due on 22 July. |
| Mr Ghani welcomed Monday's results as "legitimate and credible", but added that he was not afraid of a vote recount "for the sake of transparency". | |
| "Our votes are clean," he said at a press briefing in Kabul on Tuesday. | |
| The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan warned it would be "premature" for either side to claim victory. | The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan warned it would be "premature" for either side to claim victory. |
| It called on the presidential candidates to exercise restraint and prevent their supporters from "making any irresponsible statements and from taking steps that could lead to civil disorder and instability". | It called on the presidential candidates to exercise restraint and prevent their supporters from "making any irresponsible statements and from taking steps that could lead to civil disorder and instability". |
| Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Kerry said Afghanistan risked losing security and aid support if anyone tried to "take power by extra-legal means". | Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Kerry said Afghanistan risked losing security and aid support if anyone tried to "take power by extra-legal means". |
| Mr Abdullah said Mr Kerry was expected to travel to Afghanistan on Friday. US officials have not commented on the secretary of state's travel plans. | Mr Abdullah said Mr Kerry was expected to travel to Afghanistan on Friday. US officials have not commented on the secretary of state's travel plans. |