Key Afghan Pres. Candidate Claims Fraud

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Abdullah Abdullah, a leading contender in this weekend's Afghan presidential election, is alleging widespread abuses of power by his rival, incumbent President Ashraf Ghani.

Abdullah told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that he fears the upcoming vote is threatened by fraud. He says his biggest worry is ballot stuffing.

Abdullah battled Ghani five years ago in what were widely dismissed as deeply flawed election.

"We have registered quite a few complaints, but this is just the tip of the iceberg," Abdullah said of his rival's infractions, speaking at his home in the capital, Kabul.

After the 2014 polls, the U.S. feared widespread violence and intervened to withhold the results. Instead, it cobbled together a power-sharing government between Abdullah and Ghani.

(KR)