KABUL (PAN):  Six presidential candidates on Tuesday asked Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) to thoroughly investigate into hundreds of cases of fraud in the presidential and provincial council elections held on August 20.

Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Mirwais Yasini, Motasim Billah Mazhabi, Sayed Jalal Karim, Bismillah Shir and Dr Frozan Fana told a press conference here the fraud allegations threatened credibility of the historic polls and could result in increased tension and violence.

"We were expecting the elections to be fair and free, but unfortunately interference from government officials and some other elements weaken legitimacy of the elections," said Mirwais Yasini.

Sayed Jalal Karim said the election commission and international observers should answer their questions.

Motassim Billah said in all the 34 provinces of the country, ballot boxes were stuffed in favor of one candidate.

Frozen Fana said if their demands were not met, the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IECA) would lose its confidence among Afghans.

The candidates' statements came hours before the release of primary results by the election commission amid confirmation of rigging and fraud by some national and international organizations.

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