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A leading Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah on Sunday said that he will decide whether to take part in a possible runoff election after the final results are announced.
"We are not fearful of second round elections, but it is too early to judge that the elections will go to runoff," Abdullah told reporters here.
"If the elections process is legal, we will accept the lawful and legitimate outcome," the former foreign minister said, adding "if the invalid votes were separated from valid ballots, there will be no need for a second round of elections."
The third presidential election since the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001 was held on April 5.
On Saturday, the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced the preliminary results, with Dr. Abdullah in the lead with 44.9 percent of the votes, followed by Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai who obtained 31.5 percent and Dr. Zalmai Rassoul who won 11.5 percent.
To secure an outright victory, a candidate must win more than 50 percent of valid ballots. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go into a runoff. According to the election timetable, if the runoff is needed, it will take place on May 28.
However, Abdullah said that irregularities, fraud and interfering of government officials took place during the polls.
"Shortage of ballot papers were reported. We had registered complaints. There is no answer about our complaints so far. We want a transparent election," he said.
"Some of our observers were not allowed to do their job on time and to visit polling stations. I had said in the past that my real rival is fraud. We will pursue all irregularities and complaints," he said.
Nearly 7 million Afghans of some 12 million eligible voters cast their ballots in the April 5 presidential elections amid Taliban threat of violence and tight security.
Earlier on Sunday, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, a former finance minister, said that he was ready to run in second round elections if it takes place.
