Afghan Province Releases Final Election Results

Some of the candidates in Ghazni Province at a November 25 meeting to air grievances

Afghan election officials have released the final election results for a province where the tally from the September poll had been delayed following claims of irregularities and voter intimidation.

The results from Ghazni Province had been held up because all the victors were from the Hazara ethnic group even though nearly half the population is Pashtun.

The latest count gives all 11 seats in the province to members of the Hazara ethnic group.

The release was unchanged from the preliminary tally and completed the final election results for the country.

Election commission Chairman Fazel Ahmad Manawi said the results were "based on international standards."

Afghanistan's September 18 parliamentary elections were marred by widespread fraud.

Election officials discarded 1.3 million Afghan ballots -- nearly one-quarter of the total -- for fraud and disqualified 19 winning candidates across the country for alleged cheating.

compiled from agency reports