Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Karzai Set Up 800 Fake Poll Sites, Say Diplomats

Ten times as many ballots as voters, say Western officials

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 7, 2009 7:56 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Hamid Karzai's supporters set up hundreds of fake polling stations that delivered hundreds of thousands of votes to the Afghan president, even though nobody voted there, diplomats tell the New York Times. The incumbent's team created as many as 800 fake sites, existing only on paper. Karzai allies also occupied a further 800 polling places, keeping voters away and sending in their own results. Western officials say the number of ballots exceeds voters by a factor of 10. "This was fraud en masse," said one.

Times correspondents Dexter Filkins and Carlotta Gall report that most of the fraud took place in eastern Pashtun areas, particularly Kandahar, where Karzai's brother is the regional strongman. In Kandahar province 350,000 ballots are waiting to be counted, but diplomats say only 25,000 people turned up to vote. The US is keeping mum, anxious to remain publicly neutral, but behind the scenes one Western official said the next week could determine whether the entire vote will survive scrutiny. "This is crunch time," he said.

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, an Afghan man opens his tire repair shop under an election poster of President Hamid karzai in Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan.
In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, an Afghan man opens his tire repair shop under an election poster of President Hamid karzai in Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)
Abdullah Abdullah shows evidence of fraud to journalists during a press conference in Kabul, Sept. 5, 2009. It is state-engineered fraud. It is not violations here and there, Abdullah said.
Abdullah Abdullah shows evidence of fraud to journalists during a press conference in Kabul, Sept. 5, 2009. "It is state-engineered fraud. It is not violations here and there," Abdullah said.   (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)
President Hamid Karzai waves to his female supporters while arriving to a campaign rally in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009.
President Hamid Karzai waves to his female supporters while arriving to a campaign rally in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)
Afghan presidential candidate and current President Hamid Karzai speaks during a campaign rally for his female supporters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009.
Afghan presidential candidate and current President Hamid Karzai speaks during a campaign rally for his female supporters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The people know that the government just took control of the district center for that day of the elections. People are very frustrated. If Karzai is re-elected, people will leave the country or join the Taliban. - A tribal chief in Kandahar province

We think that about 15% of the polling sites never opened on Election Day. But they still managed to report thousands of ballots for Karzai. - A senior Western diplomat, speaking anonymously

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
MarkFL
Sep 8, 2009 4:12 AM CDT
What an embarrassment. The US brings democracy to the world... oops I mean the US finds Bin Laden... oops I mean the US improves the lives of women... oops I mean the US is fighting terrorism... oops I mean the troops are trying to "win over" the Afghans before we leave. What a total disaster. Get out now before they get free market health care!
DanB
Sep 7, 2009 7:57 AM CDT
Karzai worked for Phillips Petroleum until bushie set him up as president in Afganistan. Sure he's going to do as bushie did!!!
mehrheit
Sep 7, 2009 5:28 AM CDT
Oil, no. UNOCAL pipeline route, yes.

 
Afghanistan • voter fraud • Hamid Karzai • Pashtun • Kandahar • ballots • Ahmed Wali Karzai • Afghanistan election

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Sarkozy Wants Out of Afghanistan Next Year

Panetta Calls Karzai Over Marines' Video

US-Taliban Peace Talks Could Resume Within Weeks
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne