The Washington Post newspaper says it has obtained United Nations documents which provide more evidence of large-scale fraud in Afghanistan's recent presidential election. They indicate that, in many places, far more votes were registered than were in fact cast.

According to official Afghan figures, 134,000 people cast ballots in Helmand province and 112,000 of them voted for president Hamid Karzai. The UN, however, estimates that a maximum of just 38,000 people voted in Helmand, and the Washington Post lists similar discrepancies in many other regions.

The Electoral Complaints Commission is meeting in the Afghan capital Kabul to investigate allegations of electoral fraud. It is not expected to deliver its report before the end of next week at the earliest.

photo: Afghan recount ANP/EPA