Kerry calls Karzai amid Afghan poll fears --- WASHINGTON: US secretary of state John Kerry has called Afghan President Hamid Karzai and asked him to address the concerns of individual candidates vying to succeed him, amid fears that a poll dispute could lead to instability. -- Kerry stressed the importance of national unity and a peaceful political process during his call the Karzai yesterday, a state department spokesperson said. -- The preliminary result of Afghanistan's presidential election run-off was delayed for days for a recount of ballots in 2,000 voting centres. -- Afghans voted on June 14 to elect between former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani. -- But the two candidates are at loggerheads, triggering fears that the election results could lead to protests and uncertainty in Afghanistan. -- Kerry encouraged the Independent Election Commission to conduct a full and thorough review that ensures the Afghan people have confidence in the integrity of the electoral process, the spokesperson said. -- "While the US does not support any individual candidate, we have long stated our support for a credible, transparent and inclusive process that is broadly supported by the Afghan people and which produces a president who can govern the country," the spokesperson said. -- "We call on all sides to work toward this goal and to avoid steps that undermine national unity." -- Earlier, the State Department urged both the presidential candidates — Ashraf Ali Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah — to remain engaged with the Independent Election Commission (IEC). -- "We know there is a process here, and we have urged both sides to remain engaged with the electoral institutions who can ensure that all allegations of fraud are — brought to them are given careful and impartial review and adjudication," state department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said. -- "There are legal mechanisms for going through, receiving, investigating, and adjudicating these complaints, and we think that is an important process, even if it takes some time," she said. - More, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Kerry-calls-Karzai-amid-Afghan-poll-fears/articleshow/37614122.cms