July 8, /ITAR-TASS/. The ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Abdullah has announced himself winner of the second round of presidential election in Afghanistan, AFP news agency reported on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, earlier the Independent Election Committee of Afghanistan reported that, according to preliminary results, Abdullah Abdullah gained support of only 43.56% of votes, and the winner became his rival Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, who scored 56.44%.

 It was planned that the final results of the election would be announced July 22, and the new president’s inauguration would take place August 2.

 

Scandal at the election

The first round of presidential elections took place April 5, and its results satisfied all the participants of the presidential race.

After the second round June 14, Abdullah refused to recognize the voting results and demanded to stop the ballot counting. “From that minute on, all actions of the Independent Election Committee are deemed illegal,” he stressed. “All activity must immediately stop; otherwise the election results would not be legitimate.”

Abdullah claimed massive violations and Ahmadzai’s support from the Election Committee. He also accused former President Khamid Karzai of facilitating the alleged ballot rigging in favor of Ahmadzai.

Karzai was not running in the elections as the constitution does not allow him to run for a third term of office.

The final results of the election were scheduled to be announced on July 22 and the inauguration is slated to be held on August 2.

Rallies of Abdullah’s supporters began to gain momentum in the country. Indirect talks between the rivals were arranged, and the Election Committee’s secretary offered his resignation calling Abdullah’s accusations false.

International observers earlier said the polls were the first democratic elections in the history of the country.