Afghan official: Vote successful, not fraud free

An Afghan election official says national elections held last weekend were a success in terms of turnout and enthusiasm but he cautions that the amount of fraud was not insignificant.
Today's announcement came as ballots are still being counted. Millions of Afghans voted for a new president and provincial councils in what promises to be the country's first democratic transfer of power.
Abdul Satar Sadaat, of the electoral complaints commission, said today that "election fraud did take place and it might not have been a small amount."
He says the commission received more than 3,000 complaints of possible fraud and promises to invalidate all votes cast irregularly.

Widespread fraud marred the 2009 presidential elections and authorities took precautions to prevent that from reoccuring.