WASHINGTON (AP) – Seeking to avoid an international crisis, President Barack Obama has asked the trailing candidate in Afghanistan’s disputed presidential election to stay engaged, allow the process for investigating claims of electoral fraud to go forward and avoid any violent or “extra-constitutional measures,” a White House spokesman said Tuesday.
Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah told thousands of supporters on Monday that he will declare victory, claiming that massive fraud was behind preliminary results from a June 14 runoff vote that put him far behind rival Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
Obama spoke with Abdullah on Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
“He made clear, as we have been saying publicly, that we expect a thorough review of all reasonable allegations of fraud and that there is no justification for resorting to violent or extra-constitutional measures,” Earnest said. He said the administration has been clear that such moves would jeopardize U.S. financial and security assistance to Afghanistan.
Earnest said serious allegations of fraud have been raised and have yet to be adequately investigated.