An investigation into fraud in Afghanistan's election has cut President Hamid Karzai's vote tally to about 47%, a result that will trigger a runoff, the Washington Post has reported.
Citing officials familiar with the results, the newspaper said the tally by the Electoral Complaints Commission will be finalised today.
Preliminary election results issued on Tuesday gave Mr Karzai more than 54% of valid votes tallied, putting him above the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff with his closest rival, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.
But Afghanistan's ambassador in Washington, Said Jawad, said yesterday that a second round of voting was ‘likely,’ according to the Washington Post.
In a New York Times interview the ambassador said Mr Karzai's government was preparing for the electoral commission to announce tomorrow that a runoff was necessary.
Citing a US official in Afghanistan, the Washington Post reported that ballots listing both Mr Karzai and Mr Abdullah were printed in London in anticipation of a runoff and have arrived at the UN's mission in Kabul.
The inconclusive August election, where widespread fraud was reported, is a factor in the Obama administration's current review of its strategy in Afghanistan.
General Stanley McChrystal, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, has recommended deploying an additional 40,000 US troops, beyond the 68,000 due to be in place by the end of this year.
