Washington: Amid allegations of rigging in
the recent Afghan presidential election, President and front-
runner Hamid Karzai had "sharp exchanges" with top US envoy
for the region Richard Holbrooke about the polls during a
"difficult meeting" in Kabul, a media report said on Friday.
"There was a back and forth over particular issues. We're
not going to deny that," a senior administration official was
quoted as saying by a private news channel.
The Obama administration official described the session
with Karzai as a "difficult meeting" and "very tough," but
denied media reports that Holbrooke, the US Special Envoy for
Pakistan and Afghanistan, "stormed out."
The discussion took place during a meal and it ended
"amicably," according to the official, who said there were
follow-up meetings between Holbrooke and Karzai, who has held
power since the Taliban was ousted eight years ago.
The official also denied media reports that Holbrooke
tried to dictate to Karzai, who has not enjoyed a good rapport
with US President Barack Obama, that there must be a runoff
election. Holbrooke, the official said, underscored that the
election process should be respected and that all sides should
let it "play itself out."
"If that means it moves to a second ballot," the official
said Holbrooke told them, "then so be it."
The meeting came in the midst of opposition candidates
accusing the campaign of Karzai, a favourite of the Bush
administration, of rigging the election.
Early results released on Tuesday by Afghan election
officials showed a slim margin separating Karzai and his main
rival, Abdullah Abdullah. Nevertheless, a Cabinet minister in
Karzai's government said on Monday night that Karzai had won
with 68 per cent of the vote.
Abdullah, who was foreign minister under Karzai, has
accused the incumbent of rigging the August 20 elections in
his favour.
Six other presidential candidates have also called for
an investigation into "widespread fraud and intimidation" that
they said could cast doubt on the legitimacy of the vote. But
unlike Abdullah, they did not accuse Karzai of having a role
in the alleged fraud.
Full results are expected to be released in
mid-September. If no candidate gets 50 per cent of the vote,
there will be a runoff -- most likely in mid-October.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, August 28, 2009, 18:28