[ Afghan Elections 2004-2005 ]

The JEMB has fired around 50 officials for suspected fraud, Voice of America reported on 16 October. The JEMB's chief of operations, Richard Atwood, said that 650 ballot boxes, containing around 3 percent of the votes, will not be counted due to suspicion that they contain illegal ballots. Atwood ruled out a recount, saying the fraud was not widespread and will not affect the overall integrity of the 18 September parliamentary and provincial-council polls (see "RFE/RL Afghanistan Report," 14 October 2005). AT