Updated on
Summary
Afghan election officials have issued the results of the September 18 parliamentary elections, delayed for weeks because of fraud investigations. More than 1.3 million votes, nearly one-fourth of all ballots cast, have already been ruled invalid by the electoral commission. Fazel Ahmad Manawi, chairman of the Independent Election Commission, said that a total of 24 candidates who were declared winners in preliminary results have been disqualified.Fazel Ahmad Manawi, chairman of the Independent Election Commission, said that a total of 24 candidates who were declared winners in preliminary results have been disqualified. He said that results of one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces -- Ghazni Province southwest of Kabul -- had yet to be finalized because of what he called technical problems. Still, he called the process a major success. More than 2,500 candidates, including over 400 women, vied for 249 seats in the lower house, known as Wolesi Jirga.A UN-backed commission examining allegations of fraud had received more than 6,000 complaints from observers, voters, and candidates. Disgruntled candidates and supporters have been rallying in Kabul in recent days to protest election results.
