MAZAR-I-SHARIF - The governor of northern Balkh province on Tuesday said the release of preliminary results by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) had paved the way for a parallel government.

Governor Atta Mohammad Noor wrote this on his official webpage, Balkh.af, hours after the IEC made public the preliminary results on Monday.

But Munir Farhad, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News Balkh.af was a personal webpage of Noor and the statement reflected his personal views.

Noor added: “We categorically urged IEC to respect our legal demands and separate genuine votes from fake ones. But the IEC announced results, including bogus votes.

He said the results and activities of the commission had no legal value in the absence of representatives of the Reform and Unanimity team. The IEC had lost its credibility and independence, he alleged.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed grave concern over reports of protests in Afghanistan and suggestions of a parallel government, saying there was no justifiable recourse to violence.

“I have noted reports of protests in Afghanistan and of suggestions of a “parallel government” with the gravest concern,” Kerry said in a statement, adding that the US expects Afghan electoral institutions to conduct a full and thorough review of all reasonable allegations of irregularities.

Kerry said: “At the same time, there is no justifiable recourse to violence or threats of violence, or for resort to extra-constitutional measures or threats of the same.”  (Pajhwok)