Karzai 'admits' election fraud

Kabul: In his first public acknowledgment of fraud in Afghanistan's recent presidential elections, President Hamid Karzai admitted on Thursday that some government officials "were partial toward me".

Karzai was addressing a press conference, the day after full preliminary results showed that he had 54 percent of the vote. He held back from declaring victory, talking only of plans he will implement "if I am declared President". Though widespread reports of fraud still need to be investigated, observers say enough votes are questionable to force Karzai into a runoff with leading challenger Dr Abdullah.

Thousands of fake ballots were submitted across the country; some districts even showed Karzai winning 100 percent of the vote. A UN-backed commission has ordered a recount at about 10 percent of polling stations countrywide, after "clear and compelling" evidence of fraud.

Karzai and Abdullah's camps have both accused the other of ballot-box stuffing to pad their results, and both have called for thorough investigations.

Karzai however defended the overall procedure, saying, "I believe firmly in the integrity of the election, in the integrity of the Afghan people and in the integrity of the government in that process".