Reply #3: Karzai Camp Hardens Its Line on Recount

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KABUL -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai may not accept the results of a vote recount from the summer's general election, officials from his campaign hinted, adding a further twist to the already fraught post-poll political environment. On Sunday, his supporters began demonstrations against "foreign interference" in the elections.

As they await the results of a recount to try to adjust for widespread fraud, officials from the Karzai campaign began over the weekend to cast aspersions on the process, centering their criticism on the United Nations-backed Electoral Complaints Commission, which is re-tallying the numbers. The commission finished its audit Saturday, and is reviewing it before releasing it in coming days. If Mr. Karzai is found to have less than 50% of the vote, it could force a run-off with his top challenger, Abdullah Abdullah.

Karzai campaign spokesman Waheed Omar said Sunday that the recount process is being "politically manipulated" by outsiders and that the results may not be acceptable.

"The ECC is pretty much controlled by foreigners, and its foreign commissioners intervene in the process," said Maeen Mirstyal, a lawmaker and chief advisor to the Karzai campaign. The commission denies the charge.

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