At a gathering in Kabul on Tuesday, they warned a delay in unveiling the presidential election results was not only affecting the security situation but had also worried the people of Afghanistan.

Gen Jamil Junbish said at the event organized by Afghanistan Regional Studies Centre (ARSC): "Ordinary people are waiting for the outcome of the polls. The delay is impinging on their daily lives in a variety of ways."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce and Industries held a similar view, saying security personnel deputed at highway checkpoints were increasingly fleecing businessmen after the August 20 ballot. Muhammad Jawad Omar said there were also other issues that caused concerns among traders.

At a meeting chaired by President Hamid Karzai on Sunday, the National Security Council (NSC) also called for IEC officials to announce the final outcome as soon as possible and end thereby the present state of uncertainty.

A report presenting by the Finance Ministry during Sunday's meeting suggested a sharp fall in government revenue over the last two months.

In western Herat province, a large number of women and men met separately to voice their support to the incumbent president, who is on course to win a second term according to preliminary returns. They stressed an early announcement of the results.

At one gathering attended by more than 1000 tribal elders, religious scholars and other important figures from different districts of the province, the participants stressed the unveiling of the final outcome. They also passed a five-point resolution.

The resolution said the participants -- supporting President Karzai -- were worried about foreign interference in the electoral process.

At a separate meeting, more than 1000 women demanded of the IEC and ECC not to further hold up the results. They asked the government to punish those involved in a string of incidents of violence in recent weeks.

Final results of the landmark presidential and provincial elections, held on August 20, are yet to be announced. Provisional returns announced by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) show President Hamid Karzai ahead of his rivals.

Karzai is followed by his former foreign minister Dr. Abdullah Abdullah while French-educated politician Ramazan Bashardost is a distant third. In all, 30 candidates contested the presidential ballot, marred by allegations of massive irregularities.

frm/mud