KABUL - This week is expected to see the end of the tallying process conducted by the Independent Election Commission (IEC). Over the next days, the election will then move to the next stage – the adjudication of complaints by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC).

All of us are keen to see the processes move forward without delay so that a final and just outcome is arrived at.

In light of the concerns that have arisen over irregularities I am calling today on the IEC and the ECC to redouble their efforts to ensure full rigour in their work at every stage. This includes excluding from the preliminary count results from ballot boxes where there is evidence of irregularities.

The integrity of these elections is of the utmost importance to Afghanistan and to its international partners. I look to both the IEC and ECC to carry out their mandated work to high standards and to ensure that the final outcome faithfully reflects the will of Afghanistan’s voters.