KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The two rival presidential candidates in Afghanistan have met today to talk about the audit of last month’s presidential runoff vote. Both candidates had agreed to that audit, as a way of easing the country’s political crisis that had threatened to block a smooth transfer of power.
A spokesman for one of the candidates, Abdullah Abdullah, says he’s agreed to meet again Thursday with the other candidate, former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (ahsh-RAHF’ gah-NEE’ ah-mahd-ZEYE’).
Unofficial and disputed results showed Ghani Ahmadzai well in the lead. But supporters of Abdullah say that’s only because of widespread fraud.
Since fraud was alleged on both sides, the deal provides that every one of the 8 million ballots will be audited under national and international supervision over the next three weeks.
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APPHOTO MAH113: Afghan presidential candidate and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his residence in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, July 14, 2014. Ahmadzai said that a U.S.-brokered deal for a full ballot audit pulled the country back from the brink and put government legitimacy back on track. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini) (14 Jul 2014)
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