U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry In Afghanistan To Defuse Election Crisis

Kerry In Afghanistan To Talk Over Election Outcome, Fraud Claims -- CNN

(CNN) -- Secretary of State John Kerry made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Thursday where he plans to encourage a resolution to the presidential election that the United States insists must include a thorough review of "reasonable allegations" of fraud.

Kerry plans to meet in Kabul with presidential candidates Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani as well as the man one of them will succeed, President Hamid Karzai, to discuss the political transition amid uncertainty over the vote earlier this month.

"While the United States does not support an individual candidate, we do support a credible, transparent and inclusive process that affirms the Afghan people's commitment to democracy, and that produces a president who can bring Afghanistan together and govern effectively," the State Department said in a statement detailing Kerry's surprise visit.

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More News On U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry In Afghanistan To Defuse Election Crisis

Kerry urges Afghanistan to focus on audit to resolve disputed vote -- Reuters
Kerry pushes for solution in Afghan election dispute -- Washington Post
Kerry Pushes for Solution to Afghanistan Election Crisis -- New York Times
Kerry tries to stem election crisis in Afghanistan -- CBS/AP
Afghan poll crisis: Kerry says 'legitimacy at stake' -- BBC
In Afghanistan, Kerry Seeks Path in Voting Crisis -- AP
Kerry: 'Very Critical Moment' For Afghanistan, Amid Poll Dispute -- Radio Free Europe
US and UN Attempt to End Afghanistan's Dangerous Political Deadlock -- Vice News
Ghani versus Abdullah, brinksmanship in Afghanistan -- Jamie Tarabay, Al Jazeera

My Comment: Both sides in the Afghan election vote are standing firm. I do not see how John Kerry can change this mess .... and just talking is not going to change anything.