First results of elections in Afghanistan expected today 06.10.2005 More than two weeks after 6.8 million people voted in the face of Taliban violence, the first few unofficial results from Afghanistan's landmark elections are due out today, although ballot-fraud investigations will further delay knowing the final lineup of parliament. The official election Web site, which charts the vote count, showed powerful warlords, a former Taliban commander and women's activists among the front-runners in the race to win seats in the 249-member Wolesi Jirga, or National Assembly. The election Sept. 18 was a key step in Afghanistan's transition to democracy. The provisional election results will be released in phases, partly in case of unrest. Officials say they expect a blizzard of complaints and accusations of cheating by losing candidates. Final certified results are scheduled for Oct. 22. Aleem Siddique, a spokesman for the joint U.N.-Afghan election body, said that vote-counting finished Tuesday, except for ballot boxes that were sealed because of suspicions of fraud. Those ballots will be considered individually by the panel to determine whether they should be declared invalid. Siddique said that the first provisional results from a few of Afghanistan's 34 provinces will be announced today. The top-ranking candidates in most provinces are warlords or leaders of mujahedeen factions, many active in the anti-Soviet resistance of the 1980s and the ruinous 1992-96 civil war. But there are also plenty of new faces. Among the expected winners is Malalai Joya, 27, a women's-rights worker who rose to prominence for daring to denounce powerful warlords at a post-Taliban constitutional convention two years ago. A quarter of the assembly's seats are reserved for women. << | >> |
Search for Jobs in:
Afghanistan Kabul Mumbai Dehli Karachi Islamabad Abu dhabi Dehli Singapur London New York Los Angeles Canada
Afghanistan Kabul Mumbai Dehli Karachi Islamabad Abu dhabi Dehli Singapur London New York Los Angeles Canada
World Briefing | Asia: Afghanistan: Truck Bombing in East Kills 3 People
Afghanistan markets pomegranates
U.S. contractor charged in Afghan's death
The workloads of Afghan children
Afghan returnees huddle in tent camps
Pakistan Taleban quit peace deal
Suspected U.S. strike in Pakistan kills 6
U.S. seeks new Afghan supply routes
Photos
Datenschutz | Impressum