The Times
Jerome Starkey in Kabul, Giles Whittell and James Bone

President Karzai was under intense pressure last night to accept a deal with his main opponent or a second round of voting in Afghanistan’s disputed election after UN-backed observers declared more than a million first-round votes invalid.

Sources at the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) confirmed that its two-month inquiry had found “clear and convincing evidence of fraud”, reducing Mr Karzai’s share of the vote from 55 to 48 per cent — and requiring a run-off ballot under Afghan law.

The ruling presents President Obama with a diplomatic crisis in Kabul to add to the military quagmire, and leaves Mr Karzai’s credibility in tatters. He has dismissed the ECC’s evidence as “totally fabricated”.

Robert Gibbs, Mr Obama’s spokesman, said: “It has been obvious to the world that allegations of fraud had to be investigated.” He added that it was now “incredibly important for the world to see that Afghan leaders are willing to make this process legitimate”. (Read more)