(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The US Department of State welcomed the Independent Election Commission's (IEC) audit on ballot boxes in Afghanistan beginning Thursday while the country's presidential election has been accused of fraud since late June.
"The audit process has been ongoing since July 13, with preparatory meetings, training and working on the logistics of moving 8 million ballots in a difficult environment," said Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki to reporters Wednesday.
The IEC's audit will be under supervision of the United Nations in following international practices and utilizing an IEC checklist supplemented by UN recommendations. Additionally, Afghan campaign representatives and trained international observers will provide oversight and transparency.
Thousands of ballot boxes are already in Kabul ready to be counted. They are guarded by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), 100 international observers and 10 contractors from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Psaki added: "The United States is working very hard, hand in hand with both candidates and with Afghan officials to ensure that the July 12th agreement is translated into the actions that the people of Afghanistan expect and ensuring full legitimacy and credibility of this audit process."
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