Pressure on Karzai to accept poll result

KABUL: Global pressure mounted on President Hamid Karzai yesterday to accept a possible runoff in Afghanistan's disputed election as extended diplomacy delayed the announcement of official results from the August poll.

The row stemming from the election, marred by allegations of mass fraud, is a setback for the United States as President Barack Obama considers whether to send more troops to Afghanistan to fight a resurgent Taliban.

Diplomats and observers said Karzai's supporters resisted accepting the findings of an inquiry by the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) into poll fraud - a key factor behind delays in announcing the outcome.