Afghan President Hamid Karzai has rejected presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah's demand that he sack the chair of the electoral commission. On 7 November, Mr Abdullah will face Mr Karzai in the second round of the presidential elections.

Since the first round of the elections in August, which was marred by widespread fraud, the opposition has serious doubts about the independence of the electoral commission. Mr Abdullah says that commission's chairman Azizullah Ludin, a former advisor of Mr Karzai, is no longer credible.

The opposition candidate is also demanding the dismissal of a number of ministers who allegedly used public funds for the president's re-election campaign. Many observers share Mr Abdullah's concern about the likelihood of electoral fraud during the second round of the presidential elections.7

Photo: Abdullah Abdullah addresses his followers / ANP/EPA