KABUL - The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Friday said it had received 474 objections to the preliminary list of presidential and provincial council candidates.

The complaints had been lodged with the central and regional offices of the electoral watchdog, IECC spokesman and secretary Nadir Mohseni told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Earlier in the week, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) released the initial list of candidates for the April 2014 elections, declaring 10 presidential and 2,704 provincial council hopefuls eligible.

Dual nationality and the failure to provide signatures of 100,000 supporters were cited as principal reasons for the disqualification of other runners, who could challenge the complaints until 5pm today.

Mohseni said 18 of the complaints had been received from disqualified presidential hopefuls. He explained complaints could be lodged throughout the electoral process, but the IEC has announced the deadline will run out at 5pm.

According to the spokesman, the IECC will start investigating the complaints at the end of the deadline. Later on, access to the objections will be allowed. (Pajhwok)