Abdullah rouses protesters in Afghan election stand-off

Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah led several thousand demonstrators through Kabul on Friday, upping the stakes in his protest against alleged election fraud that has triggered a political crisis. Abdullah has vowed to reject the election result, saying he was the victim of massive ballot-box stuffing in the June 14 poll, while his rival Ashraf Ghani has claimed victory by more than one million votes. As tensions rise between opposing supporters, the United Nations has expressed fears of spiralling ethnic violence at the same time as US-led troops pull out after their 13-year war against Taliban insurgents. ‘Death to Ashraf Ghani! Death to the election commission!’ Abdullah's supporters chanted near the presidential palace as he was carried through the rowdy crowds on the roof of a truck. Friday's protest was the biggest since the fraud dispute erupted and was the first that Abdullah attended, sending a public signal that could fuel further angry demonstrations and increase the risk of civil unrest. ‘If our demands are not met, we will continue our protest as long as fraud votes are not separated from clean votes,’ said Ahmad Zia, 22, waving an Abdullah poster and the Afghan national flag. Shaperai, 55, one of the few female protesters, said: ‘The government and the election commission have stolen our votes. They are traitors and cheats,’ according to AFP.