US President Barack Obama has spoken with Afghan presidential contender Abdullah Abdullah and rival Ashraf Ghani to urge calm and to call for a review of fraud charges in that country's election, the White House said.
The White House said Obama told both candidates that the US expects fraud allegations to be thoroughly reviewed, urging the two men to seek a resolution that does not undermine Afghanistan's fragile national unity.
We are asking the complaints commission to unilaterally accept our recommendation to carry the most intensive audit in the history of any election in the world or in this country.
Ashraf Ghani, presidential candidate
"He reiterated that all parties should come together to work towards a resolution that represents the will of the Afghan people and produces a government that can bring Afghanistan together," the White House statement said.
Obama called Ashraf Ghani late on Tuesday, after he spoke to Abdullah Abdullah on Monday. Abdullah had earlier claimed of being cheated in the run-off vote.
The warning appeared to be directed mostly at Abdullah, who told thousands of supporters earlier on Tuesday that he will declare victory, amid calls from some of his supporters for him to form a "parallel government.''
Abdullah claimed massive electoral fraud is behind the preliminary results from a runoff vote that put him a million votes behind Ghani.
Ghani has denied accusations that the runoff vote was rigged, saying "political discussions" were needed in order to ensure the results of the country's presidential elections were accepted by all.
"We are asking the complaints commission to unilaterally accept our recommendation to carry the most intensive audit in the history of any election in the world or in this country," Ghani told reporters in Kabul.
Red more, plus video report:
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia/2014/07/obama-urges-calm-disputed-afghan-vote-2014794465172297.html
