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Afghan Election Watchdog Disqualifies Candidates

   VOA News 21 November 2010
   Ahmad  Zia  Rafat,  a  commissioner and spokesperson for the Electoral
   Complaints  Commission  speaks  during a press conference in Kabul, 21
   November 2010

Photo: AP

   Ahmad  Zia  Rafat,  a  commissioner and spokesperson for the Electoral
   Complaints  Commission  speaks  during a press conference in Kabul, 21
   November 2010

   Afghanistan's  election  watchdog  says it has disqualified 19 winning
   candidates  in the country's parliamentary elections after allegations
   of fraud were upheld.
   The  Electoral  Complaints  Commission  said  Sunday  two second-place
   candidates  who  would  have gained by the disqualifications were also
   ruled not eligible for the same reasons.
   An  official  said  the  candidates  do not have a right to appeal the
   decision.
   The  commission has been investigating some 2,500 complaints that were
   considered serious after the September 18 elections.
   The  vote  for  the  249-seat  parliament  is  being watched by Afghan
   President  Hamid  Karzai's  Western  allies  for signs that the Afghan
   leader is committed to reforming his corruption-ridden government.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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