Afghanistan

Who Won the Afghan Election?

Country waits; 25 dead in poll attacks.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and his leading opponent Abdullah Abdullah have both claimed victory in Thursday's presidential election, leading Afghanistan watchers to fear that the country could divide along ethnic lines and break out in violent protest. Spokesmen for both candidates said that a run-off in early October would be unnecessary as their man had won. Election officials urged the candidates to avoid making statements about the election until official results came in. The Afghan government said that 25 people were killed Thursday in a total of 135 attacks on voters. The Taliban had threatened to disrupt the vote with violence.