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US warns against 'power grab' in Afghan poll dispute Afghan poll crisis: Defiant Abdullah claims victory
(35 minutes later)
The US has warned against a power grab in Afghanistan, amid reports that a losing presidential-election candidate is planning a "parallel government". Afghan presidential contender Abdullah Abdullah has claimed victory in last month's poll, despite results giving a lead to his rival, Ashraf Ghani.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said Afghanistan risked losing support to "take power by extra-legal means". Addressing supporters in Kabul, Mr Abdullah repeated claims that the election process was marred by fraud.
Presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah said he would not accept what he called a "fraudulent government". US Secretary of State John Kerry had earlier warned against a power grab, amid reports that Mr Abdullah was planning a "parallel government".
He has contested results of the second round of elections, which gave a lead to his rival, Ashraf Ghani.
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.
Mr Abdullah is addressing a gathering in Kabul, where he has said he will never "accept a fraudulent government". At the scene: BBC correspondent Harun Najafizada
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%. I am at the hall where Abdullah Abdullah is speaking. People here are angry: a crowd chanting in rage has just torn down a poster of President Hamid Karzai, chanting "Death to Karzai. Long live Abdullah".
They are appalled and shocked 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. In the past 24 hours, several influential figures - governors, district leaders, mayors, and warlords - have come out in his favour. But Afghanistan is a divided country - Ghani and 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.
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.
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%.
Both men have alleged fraud in the election. Votes are being re-checked at more than 7,000 polling stations.Both men have alleged fraud in the election. Votes are being re-checked at more than 7,000 polling stations.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said Afghanistan risked losing security and aid support if anyone tried to "take power by extra-legal means".
The BBC's Karen Allen says that the next few days could be critical for a historic transition in Afghanistan, where political differences are often expressed in ethnic terms.The BBC's Karen Allen says that the next few days could be critical for a historic transition in Afghanistan, where political differences are often expressed in ethnic terms.
A BBC Persian correspondent at the meeting organised by Mr Abdullah's supporters says an angry crowd tore down a poster of outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai, chanting, "Death to Karzai. Long Live Abdullah".