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September 9, 2009

Karzai Rival: Afghan Elections a “Tragic Joke”
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In Afghanistan, official results from last month’s national elections
show President Hamid Karzai ahead with 54 percent of the vote, enough to
avoid a runoff with main rival Abdullah Abdullah. But the results came
hours after a UN commission said it found widespread electoral fraud and
ordered a recount at a number of polling stations. On Tuesday, Abdullah
said the election had been “a tragic joke.”

Abdullah Abdullah: “I was not surprised, because I was aware of the
trend. I knew that IEC [Independent Electoral Commission] works under
the pressure from the palace, presidential palace. The chief of IEC, the
commander-in-chief, Mr. Luddin, is working for Mr. Karzai. So are a few
other members of the secretariat. So it didn’t come as a surprise to me,
but it was disappointing for the people of Afghanistan, and I think it
sounds like a tragic joke.”



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