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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Afghan poll crisis: Kerry says 'legitimacy at stake' | Afghan poll crisis: Kerry says 'legitimacy at stake' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry says Afghanistan is at a "critical moment" as he tries to resolve tensions over the disputed presidential poll. | US Secretary of State John Kerry says Afghanistan is at a "critical moment" as he tries to resolve tensions over the disputed presidential poll. |
| Mr Kerry said that "election legitimacy hangs in the balance" as he arrived in Kabul to meet both the candidates claiming victory in June's run-off. | Mr Kerry said that "election legitimacy hangs in the balance" as he arrived in Kabul to meet both the candidates claiming victory in June's run-off. |
| During a hastily arranged visit, he is to have talks with Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani. | During a hastily arranged visit, he is to have talks with Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani. |
| Current President Hamid Karzai is stepping down after more than 10 years. | Current President Hamid Karzai is stepping down after more than 10 years. |
| He took power following the US-led overthrow of the Taliban. | He took power following the US-led overthrow of the Taliban. |
| The US has been concerned at reports that Mr Abdullah, who official results suggest lost the election, is planning a "parallel government". | The US has been concerned at reports that Mr Abdullah, who official results suggest lost the election, is planning a "parallel government". |
| Analysis by Karen Allen, BBC News, Kabul | |
| 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. | |
| "We are at a very, very critical moment for Afghanistan," said Mr Kerry after meeting the head of the UN Assistance Mission Jan Kubis at the US embassy in Kabul. | "We are at a very, very critical moment for Afghanistan," said Mr Kerry after meeting the head of the UN Assistance Mission Jan Kubis at the US embassy in Kabul. |
| "Our hopes are that there is a road that can be found that will provide that capacity for the questions to be answered, for people's doubts to be satisfied and hopefully for a future to be defined," Mr Kerry added. | "Our hopes are that there is a road that can be found that will provide that capacity for the questions to be answered, for people's doubts to be satisfied and hopefully for a future to be defined," Mr Kerry added. |
| The fact Mr Kerry made this trip at such short notice, is an indication of just how concerned the US is about the risk of Afghanistan descending into post-election turmoil, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Washington says. | The fact Mr Kerry made this trip at such short notice, is an indication of just how concerned the US is about the risk of Afghanistan descending into post-election turmoil, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Washington says. |
| It has become clear that seeing the way Iraq has unravelled so dramatically after the withdrawal of US troops has made the White House all the more desperate that Afghanistan should fare better, our correspondent adds. | It has become clear that seeing the way Iraq has unravelled so dramatically after the withdrawal of US troops has made the White House all the more desperate that Afghanistan should fare better, our correspondent adds. |
| '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, correspondents say. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |