Karzai agrees to new presidential elections
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has agreed to hold a second round of elections after allegations of voter fraud revealed the incumbent candidate had received less than 50 percent of the vote.† Karzai and opponent Abdullah Abdullah will face a run-off election on Nov. 7.
In the wake of the allegations and announcement, approximately half of Afghan election officials have been fired to eliminate suspicions of fraud.† The United Nations mission in Afghanistan is hoping to prevent widespread fraud through observation and reform in district offices.† Taliban violence, expected to disrupt the election, is also a concern.