Kabul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The main challenger in last week’s presidential elections, Abdullah Abdullah, is accusing the group around Hamid Karzai, the outgoing president, of rigging results. Meanwhile, the American generals in Afghanistan warn that the situation is “serious and deteriorating” by the day.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Abdullah Abdullah, Karzai’s former foreign minister, said that the recent elections had "irregularities, fraud and massive attempts to manipulate"
The irregularities are larger in areas where participation was low because of Taliban threats. These areas, south and south east are majority Pashtun - the ethnic group of President Karzai - and should be those that bring most votes to the outgoing president.
Abdullah was quoted as saying that “without doubt” there “have been thousands of violations” throughout the country. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission claimed had received more than 200 complaints about the electoral process so far.
Karzai's campaign spokesman, Wahid Omar, dismissed Abdullah's allegations and claimed the president's camp had submitted reports of fraud allegedly committed by Abdullah supporters to the Electoral Commission.
Karzai and Abdullah both claim victory, but the final results will only be known in mid-September.
Meanwhile, the situation in the country is "serious and deteriorating”. The U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen says highlights the difficulties faced by the approximately 100 thousand soldiers from the U.S., Great Britain, Australia, Italy and other nations, who suffer attacks and clashes with the Taliban and their terrorist allies.
Precisely for this reason, U.S. generals want to ask the president Barack Obama, for an increase of 15-45 thousand troops. But at least 50% of the American public is increasingly opposed to the war in Afghanistan. It is likely that the proposed increase in troop strength will meet with resistance of both among Democrats and Republicans.