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| Afghan poll crisis: Kerry in Kabul bid to ease tensions | Afghan poll crisis: Kerry in Kabul bid to ease tensions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Afghanistan to try to help resolve tensions over the country's disputed presidential elections. | US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Afghanistan to try to help resolve tensions over the country's disputed presidential elections. |
| He will meet both of the candidates claiming victory in June's run-off, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani. | He will meet both of the candidates claiming victory in June's run-off, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani. |
| Mr Kerry earlier warned against a power grab, amid reports that Mr Abdullah was planning a "parallel government". | Mr Kerry earlier warned against a power grab, amid reports that Mr Abdullah was planning a "parallel government". |
| President Hamid Karzai is stepping down after more than 10 years in power after the US-led overthrow of the Taliban. | President Hamid Karzai is stepping down after more than 10 years in power after the US-led overthrow of the Taliban. |
| 'Testing the limits' | 'Testing the limits' |
| Mr Kerry is also due to hold talks with the current president in Kabul. | Mr Kerry is also due to hold talks with the current president in Kabul. |
| America's top diplomat earlier warned that Afghanistan risked losing security and aid support if anyone tried to "take power by extra-legal means". | America's top diplomat earlier warned that Afghanistan risked losing security and aid support if anyone tried to "take power by extra-legal means". |
| Preliminary results announced by Afghanistan's election officials give Mr Ghani 56.44% of votes in the 14 June run-off. | Preliminary results announced by Afghanistan's election officials give 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, has 43.56%. | Mr Abdullah, who fell just short of an outright majority in the first round, has 43.56%. |
| Taliban offensive | Taliban offensive |
| Both candidates 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. | Both candidates 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. |
| The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan has warned it will be "premature" for either side to claim victory. | The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan has warned it will be "premature" for either side to claim victory. |
| It called on the presidential candidates to exercise restraint and prevent their supporters 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 "taking steps that could lead to civil disorder and instability". |
| There are also concerns about a further deterioration in the security situation. | 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, says the BBC's Karen Allen in Kabul. | Taliban militants have been testing the limits of the Afghan army in recent weeks, with a major offensive in the southern province of Helmand, says the BBC's Karen Allen in Kabul. |
| 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, she adds. | 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, she adds. |
| 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. |