A U.S.-funded group that observed Afghanistan's presidential poll saysdespite reports of serious fraud, the election has so far beencredible.
Richard Williamson from the International RepublicanInstitute told reporters in Kabul Friday that its observers werepresent at 250 polling stations during Thursday's vote.
Hedescribed the voting process as well organized and well run. ButWilliamson also said there were serious problems, including poorsecurity, which he said affected voter turnout.
Williamson said the threat of Taliban violence was so great that "the merchants of fear have had some success."
Otherirregularities cited by the group included reports of voterregistration cards being sold and problems with the indelible ink usedto prevent voters from casting more than one ballot.
Williamsonsaid such reports of fraud warrant investigation. And he noted thatAfghan state media coverage of the elections heavily favored incumbentPresident Hamid Karzai. Williamson described the abuse of stateresources as "alarming."
Another outside observer group, theNational Democratic Institute, is scheduled to give its assessment ofthe election on Saturday.