KABUL - After a daylong delay, a special audit of 6,000 suspect ballot boxes was launched in the presence of national and international observers on Saturday, an official said.

Following the UN-proposed draft, both sides provided lists of 3,000 ballot boxes each for the special audit to the Independent Election Commission (IEC). However, the audit of other ballot boxes was underway.

Mohammad Naeem Asgharee, an observer from the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFFA), said the audit of the suspicious ballot boxes began at 8:30 am. He told Pajhwok Afghan News the process was moving slowly.

The scrutiny was moving at a snail’s pace due to lack of coordination between teams of both candidates and national and international observers, said Mohammad Halim Fidaee, a member of Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai’s camp.

Sharing the commission’s concern at the slow-paced recount, the former Maidan Wardak governor said efforts were underway to speed up the process to audit 1,000 ballot boxes on a daily basis.

Speaking on behalf of Abdullah’s team, Mohammad Zahir Aghbar said the special audit was proceeding normally. But it was unclear when the process would be completed, he concluded. (Pajhwok)