18 October 2004 -- One of the main candidates for the Afghan presidency said today that with slightly more than 10 percent of votes counted, it is too early to concede defeat to Transitional Administration Chairman Hamid Karzai.
With nearly 1 million votes counted so far, representing some 12 percent of the estimated total, Karzai has garnered roughly 60 percent of the vote, followed by former Education Minister Mohammad Yunos Qanuni with nearly 19 percent, according to figures provided by the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB).
Qanuni told AP he is waiting for a full count of the votes and a proper investigation into allegations of electoral fraud.
Qanuni said the results of the fraud probe will help determine whether the vote was legitimate.
International experts are examining the fraud allegations, which arose after many voters were able to remove ink that had been marked on their hands to prevent multiple voting during the balloting on 9 October.
(AP)
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