KABUL - President Hamid Karzai on Thursday said presidential election results must be announced within the agreed timeline.

The Presidential Palace said Karzai issued the call during a meeting with UNAMA head Ján Kubiš early noon. They also discussed the ongoing vote audit.

Millions of Afghans, who exercised their voting right, had been waiting for months for the results and wanted to see a new president sworn in and a new government installed, Karzai said.

He noted the current situation had negatively affected the country’s security, stability and economy. The election result, therefore, must be announced before the end of August so that a new president could take office, he added.

The vote audit is moving forward at the Independent Election Commission (IEC) headquarters, where over 4,360 of more than 23,000 ballot boxes have been reviewed so far.

Swearing-in of the new president was scheduled to be held on the fifth day of Eidul Fitr, but widespread fraud allegations delayed the final results.

Kubiš urged Karzai to remain in office for another month, a call that came soon after both presidential candidates agreed on a full vote audit and formation of a government of national unity.  (Pajhwok)