Karzai Urges End To Afghan Election Stalemate

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center, calls for resolution in presidential election. He's flanked by candidates Ashraf Ghani, left, and Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul

Afghan President Hamid Karzai marked the 95th anniversary of Afghanistan's independence Tuesday with an appeal to end the nation's two-month election dispute over who will succeed him.

Standing alongside candidates Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, who have failed to agree on who won the election, Karzai said Afghanistan needs an inclusive government.

He said the nation is waiting "impatiently" for the final result. Allegations of fraud have come from both sides.
Karzai said he hopes a new president can be sworn in by August 25, a goal some see as overly optimistic.

The 8 million votes cast during the June 14 run-off between the two candidates are being audited in a deal mediated by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Taliban fight continues

As the stalemate drags on, the country's fight against the Taliban continues.

General Abdul Hakeen, the police chief of Logar province south of Kabul, told VOA’s Dari Radio on Tuesday that Afghan security forces had repelled a "large-scale Taliban offensive" in Azra District. He said at least 17 Taliban fighters were killed in the firefight, as well as one Afghan police officer.

The Reuters news agency reported up to 700 Taliban insurgents were taking part in the battle.