Concerns rise about runoff election

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The special U.S. envoy to Afghanistan says he believes the Nov. 7 presidential runoff election will not be as flawed as the Aug. 20 polls.

But despite Richard Holbrooke's optimism, other observers are not so sure, Voice of America reported. President Hamid Karzai, who is seeking a second term, will face Abdullah Abdullah in the runoff.

"It is reasonable to hope that there will be less irregularities this time for several reasons," Holbrooke said, noting there will only be two candidates this time as opposed to dozens on Aug. 20, elections officials have more experience and the international community wants a fair runoff.

Skeptics cite challenges such as the Taliban threat, voter apathy, and only two weeks time for a turnaround, VOA reported.

Candace Rondeaux, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group in Brussels, agreed the runoff constitutionally must take place.

"However, I do not think that you can expect any great new thunderbolts of just and fair elections because we still have the same machinery in place that has not been fixed at all," Rondeaux said.

Francesc Vendrell, former European Union special envoy to Afghanistan, said the people's faith already has been badly shaken by the widespread fraud and that "this will only come as confirmation."

Other analysts said the problem of electoral credibility also results from the widely held belief the Afghan Independent Election Commission is not truly independent and supports only Karzai.