HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): The US consul-general in the western zone has expressed concern over possible fraud in the April 5 presidential and provincial council elections.
Speaking to journalists in the capital of western Herat province late on Sunday, Eugene S. Young said that reports of election law violations and fraud were of concern to him.
“The entire world is watching the Afghan elections. The process is Afghan-led. The people deserve to have transparent polls,” the diplomat remarked.
He called the ballot an historic opportunity for Afghans, through which one elected government would transfer power to another democratically-elected setup.
Young said though the international community was supporting the election process, Afghans themselves were spearheading the task.
Pointing to rebel efforts to disrupt the ballot, he said: “Afghan security forces have the ability to secure the polls and we are witnessing defeat of insurgents.”
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