Afghan election results confirm Abdullah-Ghani run-off

KABUL, Afghanistan - Agence France-Presse

In this Monday, April 21, 2014 photo, Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai speaks during a press conference, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AFP Photo

Afghanistan's presidential election will go to a second-round vote on June 14 between former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani, final results showed Thursday.
      
"After a thorough review, it is clear that no candidate has been able to win more than 50 percent and the election goes to a second round," Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani, head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), said.
      
Abdullah secured 45 percent of the vote on April 5, with his main rival Ghani on 31.6 percent, according to the final results, which came after weeks of deliberation over fraud allegations.
      
The results were closely in line with the figures released late last month when counting was completed.
      
The run-off was originally scheduled for May 28.
      
"Some sensitive materials that were stocked at IEC headquarters for the second round were destroyed by the Taliban attack on March 29 -- providing those materials again needs time," Nuristani said, explaining the delay.