Afghan Election Results Show Ghani Won Over 55 Percent Of Vote

Afghan president-elect Ashraf Ghani gestures with officials during an event at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) office in Kabul on September 26, 2014.

Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) confirmed on September 26 that Ashraf Ghani has won the country's disputed presidential runoff with more than 55 percent of the vote.

The commission had declared Ghani the winner earlier this month but without revealing the margin of victory over concerns that fraud allegations could trigger violence.

At an IEC ceremony in Kabul, Ghani was presented with a certificate that confirmed he had won 55.27 percent of the vote.

Both Ghani and his election rival Abdullah Abdullah claimed victory in the June 14 runoff vote, amid widespread fraud allegations.

The dispute triggered a UN-supervised vote recount that lasted for weeks.

Ghani is expected to be inaugurated on September 29.

Under a U.S.-brokered deal Ghani and Abdullah have agreed to create a national unity government, which will see Abdullah become chief executive with powers similar to that of prime minister.

Based on reporting by AFP and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

fn/et