KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomes the decision of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to launch an additional, ongoing audit of a number of polling stations in the second round of the Presidential election in which the total number of ballots cast was 599 or higher.

UNAMA encourages the IEC to implement further measures that could enhance the transparency, neutrality and impartiality of the electoral process, and separate and reject fraudulent ballots from valid votes.

The Mission also welcomes the IEC’s re-scheduling of the announcement of the second round’s preliminary results to Monday, 7 July.

In line with the Security Council’s presidential statement adopted after its meeting on Afghanistan on 25 June, UNAMA looks forward to the conclusion of the electoral process in accordance with the relevant laws and mandates of the electoral institutions and the orderly transition to a new administration.