DEMOCRACY GOES DOWN THE KARZAI.

Byline: LAURA ARMSTRONG

FRAUD investigators have thrown out hundreds of thousands of votes for Afghanistan's president from the country's disputed election.

Their ruling sets the stage for a runoff between President Hamid Karzai and his top challenger, Abdullah Abdullah.

A United Nations-backed panel released its report yesterday after nearly two months investigating August's poll.

International officials say the Electoral Complaints Commission experts found Mr Karzai's total fell below the 50% needed for outright victory.

Investigators did not provide exact figures but it was obvious huge numbers of Karzai votes have been discounted.

It was unclear, however, whether the Afghan-led Independent Election Commission would accept the findings of the fraud panel and announce a runoff.

Mr Karzai's spokesman said it was too soon to make a judgment.

That could mean a further delay in forming the new government America believes is needed to help fight the Taliban insurgency.

A lasting crisis could also lead to political unrest.

The White House has also said no decision on sending more US troops to Afghanistan would be made before the election crisis is resolved.

Grant Kippen, chairman of the ECC, said: "Our decisions, our orders, are final and binding according to the law. We've followed the law clearly, very precisely."

Mr Abdullah's spokesman welcomed the panel's findings as "a step forward".

Afghan officials have said they could organise a run-off in two weeks, which is close to the start of winter. When snow falls in mountain areas it will become all but impossible to have an election.

For this reason, Western diplomats have urged a power-sharing agreement to avoid a new vote and end the crisis.

CAPTION(S):

PRESSURE Karzai may face run-off