But the U.N.-backed Electoral Complaints Commission examined more than 2,500 allegations of fraud including phantom polling stations, ballot-stuffing and police intimidation and declared a third of Mr.Karzai's ballots invalid, reversing his outright victory.
VOA: standard.2009.10.20
If Mr Hague does as well as expected, Mr Clarke may not want to fight on and contest a thirdballot.
Mr Gauck, a non-partisan civil rights campaigner put forward by the centre left, appeared close to tears as his supporters applauded his result in the thirdballot, which needed a simple majority.