UN envoy says fraud widespread in Afghan presidential election

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The head of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan has acknowledged there was "widespread fraud" in the August presidential election. But he refused to give specifics or lay blame to avoid influencing the ongoing recount.

Kai Eide, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan made the announcement during a news conference in Kabul.

Kai Eide said, "It has been claimed that there was around 30-percent fraud, there is no way to know at this stage what the level of fraud is. I can only say that there was widespread fraud. Any specific figure at this time would be pure speculation."

In a separate news conference on Sunday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced that the final results of the presidential election had been delayed for at least another day.

Hamid Karzai said, "My wish is that the result of the elections should be announced soon - tomorrow or the day after - to rescue the Afghan people from the confusion which has been publicized by the western media, and allow them to think about their future and their lives."

Preliminary results released last month showed Karzai winning the election with about 54 percent of the vote. But a recount, expected to be completed this month, may force a runoff with second-place Abdullah Abdullah if Karzai's total falls below 50 percent.