Afghan Political Confrontation Turns Into Deadly Gunfight --- KABUL—Afghan President Hamid Karzai suggested that the United Nations may help adjudicate an increasingly dangerous dispute over allegations of massive fraud in the country's June 14 presidential election. --- Presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah, a former foreign minister, has accused Afghan election authorities of bias toward his rival candidate, former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani, and Thursday said he won't recognize the election's outcome. Mr. Abdullah's campaign alleges that about one million ballots were stuffed for Mr. Ghani, mostly in eastern Afghanistan, a charge that the Ghani campaign denies. -- A shootout Friday between supporters of the two candidates in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif claimed at least five lives, underscoring the potential for wider violence over the election. -- In remarks to religious leaders on Friday, Mr. Karzai said U.Ninvolvement—something Mr. Abdullah has requested—would be a "good step" to help defuse the crisis. Mr. Karzai also said his two vice presidents—one of whom is allied with Mr. Ghani and the other with Mr. Abdullah—could help mediate between the candidates to resolve the impasse. -- "It now depends on the respected candidates to choose one of the two options, and the government will respect their choice," he said. -- The U.N.'s spokesman in Afghanistan said that the U.N. was ready to help forge "an Afghan-led" resolution to the matter. -- "We note the comments made by presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah earlier this week about a potential U.N. role, as well as those of President Karzai today," the spokesman, Ari Gaitanis, said. "The U.N. stands ready to facilitate an Afghan-led process in which both sides will cooperate, but we need to hear more details about any proposal." -- In a statement Wednesday, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan called on both candidates to "control their supporters to prevent them from making any irresponsible statements and from taking steps that could lead to civil disorder and instability." -- Already, small sit-ins organized by Mr. Abdullah's supporters have begun in Kabul. Larger demonstrations are planned for Saturday. -- In northern Kabul, more than 100 supporters of Mr. Abdullah erected a small tent city and hung posters protesting alleged fraud. - More, WSJ, http://online.wsj.com/articles/afghan-political-confrontation-turns-deadly-1403262694