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Afghan election audit resumes as presidential rivals argue over terms Afghan election audit resumes as presidential rivals argue over terms
(about 1 hour later)
An audit of Afghanistan's presidential election has resumed without the support of one of the leading candidates, Abdullah Abdullah – undermining a process designed to ease suspicions about fraud. An audit of Afghanistan's presidential electionhas resumed without the support of one of the leading candidates, Abdullah Abdullah, undermining a process designed to ease suspicions about fraud.
The audit had been agreed on by Abdullah and his rival presidential hopeful Ashraf Ghani during an intense negotiation hosted by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, on 11 July. Since then, the process had been subject to numerous delays, with the two candidates still working through the specifics of how to disqualify votes.The audit had been agreed on by Abdullah and his rival presidential hopeful Ashraf Ghani during an intense negotiation hosted by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, on 11 July. Since then, the process had been subject to numerous delays, with the two candidates still working through the specifics of how to disqualify votes.
The process, which is expected to review all 8.1m ballots cast during the 14 June run-off presidential vote, was meant to recommence on Friday. It was instead delayed by 24 hours when Abdullah requested clarification on the criteria for invalidating fraudulent votes. Attempts to resume failed again on Saturday, when Abdullah's camp asked for an additional 24 hours. The process, which is expected to review all 8.1m ballots cast during the 14 June runoff presidential vote, was meant to recommence on Friday. It was delayed by 24 hours when Abdullah requested clarification on the criteria for invalidating fraudulent votes.
On Sunday, observers for Abdullah's campaign did not show up at the election commission, citing ongoing negotiations with the United Nations. At 2pm local time, the commission decided to go ahead despite the absence of Abdullah's team. Attempts to resume failed again on Saturday, when Abdullah's camp asked for an additional 24 hours, but observers for Abdullah's campaign did not show up at the election commission on Sunday, citing ongoing negotiations with the United Nations. At 2pm local time, the commission decided to go ahead despite the absence of Abdullah's team.
"Every day they are putting out new terms and conditions," said Abbas Noyan, a member of Ghani's campaign. "Endless, their demands are endless. To me, this means that they are not serious about the process.""Every day they are putting out new terms and conditions," said Abbas Noyan, a member of Ghani's campaign. "Endless, their demands are endless. To me, this means that they are not serious about the process."
For their part, Abdullah's supporters seemed taken aback that the election authorities went ahead without them. Abdullah's supporters seemed taken aback that the election authorities went ahead without them.
"The start of the audit came as a surprise to us," said Mahmoud Saikal, adviser to the Abdullah campaign. He said he heard the news during a meeting with senior UN officials to discuss the audit procedure and exclusion criteria, which he had assumed would precede the audit itself."The start of the audit came as a surprise to us," said Mahmoud Saikal, adviser to the Abdullah campaign. He said he heard the news during a meeting with senior UN officials to discuss the audit procedure and exclusion criteria, which he had assumed would precede the audit itself.
Starting the audit without the consent of Abdullah's camp, Saikal said, was "contrary to the spirit of the dialogue we have been having with the UN".Starting the audit without the consent of Abdullah's camp, Saikal said, was "contrary to the spirit of the dialogue we have been having with the UN".
Another senior member of Abdullah's team dismissed the audit as a sham.Another senior member of Abdullah's team dismissed the audit as a sham.
"This is not an audit, but a show," said Nasrallah Baryalai, Abdullah's campaign manager. "Today, unfortunately the IEC has started the audit without our observers' presence, which is not right and acceptable." "This is not an audit, but a show," said Nasrallah Baryalai, Abdullah's campaign manager. "Today, unfortunately the IEC [independent election commission] has started the audit without our observers' presence, which is not right and acceptable."
All votes audited without a member of the Abdullah campaign present would be discredited, he said.All votes audited without a member of the Abdullah campaign present would be discredited, he said.
Heightening the concern among Abdullah's supporters, his team released an audio recording on Sunday afternoon of what they say is one of President Hamid Karzai's deputies endorsing electoral fraud in Ghani's favour.Heightening the concern among Abdullah's supporters, his team released an audio recording on Sunday afternoon of what they say is one of President Hamid Karzai's deputies endorsing electoral fraud in Ghani's favour.
The recording of the second vice-president, Karim Khalili, is the latest in what the Abdullah campaign claims is evidence that Ghani has enjoyed backing from the presidential palace and electoral commissions.The recording of the second vice-president, Karim Khalili, is the latest in what the Abdullah campaign claims is evidence that Ghani has enjoyed backing from the presidential palace and electoral commissions.
Election authorities say they're undeterred by the outrage from Abdullah's camp.Election authorities say they're undeterred by the outrage from Abdullah's camp.
"The door of the IEC is wide open to Dr Abdullah if he wants to come and observe," said Noor Mohammad Noor, the electoral commission spokesman."The door of the IEC is wide open to Dr Abdullah if he wants to come and observe," said Noor Mohammad Noor, the electoral commission spokesman.
The process will continue in two six-hour shifts, every day of the week, with more than 2,000 observers – including 773 international observers – until the remaining 22,800 ballot boxes have been reviewed, he said. So far, only 1,700 boxes have been audited.The process will continue in two six-hour shifts, every day of the week, with more than 2,000 observers – including 773 international observers – until the remaining 22,800 ballot boxes have been reviewed, he said. So far, only 1,700 boxes have been audited.
"We are trying our best to finish as soon as possible, but we also cannot give an exact date," Noor said. It is unclear if the process will wrap up by the hoped-for deadline of 25 August."We are trying our best to finish as soon as possible, but we also cannot give an exact date," Noor said. It is unclear if the process will wrap up by the hoped-for deadline of 25 August.
Both the UN and the US embassy in Kabul have expressed concern that further delays may harm the country's security, political, and economic situation. The UN and the US embassy in Kabul have expressed concern that further delays maydeleterious harm the country's security, political, and economic situation.