Afghan vote decision expected amid horse-trading

But they said that Afghan politicians and their international backers have been involved in days of vigorous horse-trading in the hope of averting a run-off,which many fear could further destabilise the fragile country.

Afghanistan8217;s August 20 election has been overshadowed by allegations of fraud,mostly against Karzai,including findings by EU observers that a quarter of all votes,or 1.5 million,were suspicious.

Karzai leads preliminary results with around 55 per cent of the vote. He needs 50 per cent plus one vote to be declared the winner.

His main rival Abdullah Abdullah has around 28 per cent. An official announcement is to be made by the Independent Election Commission IEC,widely regarded as pro-Karzai,which acts on the orders of the UN-approved Electoral Complaints Commission ECC.