Final Afghan Election Results to be Announced

Afghanistan's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has said it will announce final results of August's disputed presidential elections. The announcement comes a day after a UN-backed panel, the ECC, said it had found clear evidence of fraud. President Hamid Karzai will accept the IEC's results, his spokesman says. But it is not clear whether the IEC, which is widely believed to be pro-Karzai, will follow the UN panel's recommendations. Initial results released last month gave Mr Karzai nearly 55% of votes, and his main rival Abdullah Abdullah 28%, suggesting the president had won outright. But the ECC said that after fraudulent ballots were discounted, Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below 50%, indicating that a second round was needed. Mr Karzai has previously refused a run-off, insisting he won the election outright. "Our commissioners are meeting now to discuss the figures sent by the ECC and will announce a final decision today," IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said.