KABUL - The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Tuesday said it had started investigating complaints from last weekend’s presidential vote.

IECC Secretary Nader Mohseni told a news conference in Kabul 3,103 complaints had been registered with the panel until Monday night, the deadline for reporting fraud and any other irregularities.

Roughly half of the complaints would be investigated because the rest received over the telephone lacked supporting evidence and would be used for information purpose only.

He added 227 complaints were filed against presidential runners, 573 against provincial candidates 573 and 772 against election staff.

The number of complaints is expected to increase because objections recorded by election observers are yet to be shared with the IECC. “As we get them, the final number of complaints will increase.”

“We promise people’s votes will be respected but fake ones will not be counted,” Mohseni said, adding they could not ignore the fact that there had been instances of fraud and electoral law violations.

There had been more than 2,000 complaints investigated during the 2009 elections, which were tarnished by fraud that led to more than a million votes being scrapped. (Pajhwok)