World

Afghan election to go to 2nd round

13:00 pm on 27 April 2014

The presidential election in Afghanistan will go to a second round, after no candidate secured more than fifty percent of the vote.

Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah won most votes with 44.9%. Former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani came second with 31.5%.

Zalmay Rassoul, also a former foreign minister, was a distant third with 11.5 percent.

The BBC reports they are now expected to face a run-off vote on 28 May.

Final official results are due to be announced on 14 May after a period for adjudication of complaints.

Turnout was double that of the previous presidential election in 2009, despite a number of attacks in the run-up and bad weather on polling day.

Millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats to vote in the election.

Current President Hamid Karzai was constitutionally barred from standing for a third term.