Afghan election fraud accusations

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A brother of the Afghan president Hamid Karzai (pictured voting on Aug 20th/AP Photo) has denied accusations that his aides prevented thousands of people from voting in the presidential election because they planned to vote for an opposition candidate. The president’s brother Ahmed Wali Karzai told the BBC the accusations, published in the New York Times, were absolutely baseless. Marco Werman speaks with the BBC’s Chris Morris in Kabul about the mounting challenges posed by escalating violence and allegations of voting fraud in Afghanistan. >>>BBC coverage of the Afghan election

Karzai still ahead in Afghan vote

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Afghanistan’s election commission has released further results from the presidential poll, still showing the president in the lead. President Hamid Karzai has gained 45.8% of the votes tallied, with his nearest rival Abdullah Abdullah at 33.2%, the independent commission said. However, more than 2,000 allegations of fraud and intimidation have been made. Marco Werman talks with Grant Kippen of the Electoral Complaints Commission in Afghanistan. >>>BBC coverage

Karzai ahead in Afghan election

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Initial counting from Afghanistan’s presidential election shows incumbent Hamid Karzai with a slight lead. With 10% of the ballots counted, the election commission reported that President Karzai (pictured) has received 41 % of the votes so far and his challenger Abdullah Abdullah 39 %. Final results are not expected for several weeks. Anchor Jeb Sharp talked with the BBC’s Chris Morris in the Afghan capital, Kabul. >>>Click here for BBC coverage

Still counting in Afghanistan

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So far, only about a tenth of the votes have been counted in Afghanistan’s presidential election, but early numbers show a close race between incumbent President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah. Anchor Jeb Sharp gets the latest from the BBC’s Chris Morris.

Afghan refugees and the election

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The election in Afghanistan is unlikely to have much effect on the nearly three million Afghans who’ve fled their country. The BBC’s Hugh Sykes visits Afghan refugees camped out in northern France for their reaction to election news.

Global Political Cartoons: August 15-21, 2009

Afghans went to the polls this week and international cartoonists felt compelled to comment about it. You’ll see plenty of burkas, and Kalashnikovs, often in the same image. The cartoons are somber, poignant, provocative and deeply irreverent.

>>>Click here to start the cartoon slideshow.