Full review of Afghan ballots

Kerry said on Saturday that both candidates would commit themselves to accept the outcome of the election, but only after a thorough audit of votes.

The secretary of state was in the country for talks between presidential contenders Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, as well as Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Kerry said it was hoped that concerns about possible vote rigging could be addressed with a far-reaching investigation into the validity of each ballot cast.

"Both candidates have committed to participate in and stand by the results of the largest most possible audit. Every single ballot that was cast will be audited, all 8 million," Kerry said.

"This is the strongest possible signal by both candidates of the desire to restore legitimacy to the process," he added.

The recount was to begin within 24 hours, Kerry said, and a presidential inauguration scheduled for August 2 would be postponed. Both rivals have agreed to a national unity government in the meantime.

Kerry arrived in Afghanistan early Friday, warning of the danger posed to the legitimacy of the poll by the bickering.

Turnaround in approach

According to preliminary results from Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission, Ghani won the second round of voting on June 14 with 56.44 percent of the vote. Abdullah, who won the first round of voting, garnered 43.56 percent.

Abdullah, a former anti-Taliban fighter who once served as Afghanistan's foreign minister, has condemned the alleged vote-rigging as a "coup against the people."

Final official numbers are due on July 22, pending an investigation into vote fraud.

Though Karzai, who is constitutionally barred from serving a third term as president, has stayed publicly neutral in the election, he is accused by Abdullah's supporters of helping to fix the vote in Ghani's favor.

Meawhile, on Saturday, at least 32 people were killed in two bombings as scores of insurgents attacked security posts in eastern Laghman province.

rc/mkg (dpa, AFP, Reuters, AP)