SHIBERGHAN/MAHMUD RAQI (PAN): A large number of people in northern Jawzjan and central Kapisa provinces supported the August 20 presidential polls but voiced aversion to a run-off election.
Participants of separate gatherings said last month's presidential and provincial council elections were transparent and called on foreign countries to stop interference in
Speaking at a gathering in Shiberghan, capital of Jawzjan, one participant named Abdul Majid Samim insisted the August 20 polls were free, fair and transparent.
According to preliminary results, President Hamid Karzai received 54.62 percent of the ballots. He is followed by Dr. Abdullah Abdullah with 27.75 percent of the vote.
"We want the announcement of the final outcome and support the preliminary results released by the Independent Election Commission (IEC)," said Sima, a worker of the Afghan Gas Enterprises in Shiberghan.
She rejected allegations of rigging and irregularities in the elections as a conspiracy to dispute President Hamid Karzai's triumph.
Tribal elder Muhammad Sadiq said some candidates could not afford the re-election of the incumbent president. He blamed such candidates for creating confusion among the people and paving the way for another civil war in the country.
In Kapisa, participants of a similar gathering said taking the elections into the second round was against the interest of Afghans. Religious scholars, former mujahideen and youths took part in the public meeting.
"In view of the current economic problems of the country, a recount and annulment of results will amount to a rejection of Afghans' aspirations," observed Aziz Rahman, a former mujahid.
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