International pressure to resolve Afghanistan's disputed election intensified on Saturday when senior foreign officials talked with President Hamid Karzai, Reuters reported. The discussions, some by telephone and some in person, took place just before the U.N.-backed Electoral Complaints Commission was to announce the findings of its investigation into allegations of fraud in the Aug. 20 presidential vote. The accusations have left Afghanistan in a state of political uncertainty at a time when U.S. President Barack Obama is deciding on sending more troops to fight the Taliban. If Karzai's vote tally is reduced, he could face a run-off round against former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. "The second round is definitely on the radar screen right now," said a Western official close to the process. "This is why there are delays. There are some tense negotiations going on." A host of high-level visitors arrived in Kabul for talks before the announcement, including U.S. Senator John Kerry, who is chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. "This is very complicated," Kouchner told reporters. "We want to understand why it is not possible to get a consensus. But you need to work together." Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, was also in Kabul on a private visit, the U.S. embassy said. Karzai separately spoke by phone to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Karzai's office said. A U.S. diplomat said Kerry's goal was to "highlight the need for a legitimate outcome in this election". The elections are a vital element in Western plans to stabilize Afghanistan and deny sanctuary there to militants believed to have used it as a base for actions across the globe, including the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. More than 100,000 foreign troops are in Afghanistan fighting Taliban insurgents but growing casualties and doubts about the Karzai government are undermining support for the effort in the United States, Britain and other countries involved. After several delays, the Complaints Commission should unveil its findings this weekend. Once it has approved them, the Afghan election commission will adjust the tallies and announce the final result. Karzai won 54.6 percent of the vote, according to preliminary figures. More than 250,000 votes would have to be thrown out from his tally for it to fall below 50 percent. If enough votes were disqualified, the incumbent would face Abdullah in a second round -- barring possible legal steps to invalidate the decision or an Abdullah decision to withdraw. While accusing Karzai's camp of fraud and calling for a second round, Abdullah has hinted he might be open to some discussions after the first round result is announced. A run-off pitting Karzai against Abdullah would be due within two weeks. Security threats stemming from the insurgency and the onset of the bitter Afghan winter, which makes much of the country impassable, could undermine the effort.
