Abdullah Abdullah praises Afghan voter turnout, but Ghani crys foul

Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah has lauded the voter turnout during the second presidential re-run on Saturday, but his rival Ashraf Ghani claimed that government security officials had interfered with the polling process.

The result once out, will decide whether Abdullah Abdullah or Ghani will succeed incumbent President Hamid Karzai, who cannot serve a third consecutive term as per the Afghan Constitution.

Whoever succeeds Karzai will face a host of problems, including an aggressive Taliban insurgency, an economy in the doldrums, a high level of corruption in the corridors of power, and the overwhelming fact that foreign troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani did not secure the required 50 percent majority needed to win outright in the first round on April 5.

Abdullah said: "I believe that the turn out was not higher than the previous polls, but people are continuing to take part in large numbers across the whole country."

"Men and women have participated and we are proud of our nation as its citizens once more prove that they believe in the democratic process and that they know their democratic rights and as such they respect the rule of law," he added.

Ghani, however, said: "The serious irregularity which took place in this election was the unlawful interferance of some government security officials. The electoral chairman has raised this issue and said that some security members had interfered in the election unlawfully."

Violence was at a high level on Saturday in various parts of Afghanistan.

At least 20 civilians were killed along with a further 11 police and 15 army personnel, the interior ministry said.

But voters were not deterred and did cast their votes.

In a statement, Karzai said: "The participation of our dear countrymen in this elections takes Afghanistan one strong step forward toward stability and prosperity. Afghans have taken a strong step forward while the enemy of the country attempted to disrupt the election."

"Unfortunately we have had civilian causality once again today, the polling station came under attacks in some places but the people of Afghanistan went to the polling station eagerly and with courage, with the people's participation today Afghanistan achieved success," he added.

Preliminary results will not be known until July 2.