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Afghan Election Countdown Begins KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (Associated Press) -

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's chief political rival has agreed to a runoff election. But that acceptance comes with conditions.

Ex-Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah says he won't accept an election organized on the same terms as the August vote, which was marred by fraud. He's preparing a list of conditions for election organizers.

Abdullah's comments come after Karzai agreed to the new vote yesterday, under the weight of U.S. and international pressure.

A U.N.-backed panel had found massive fraud in the August election, and said that Karzai fell short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff.

Efforts to avoid fraud in the upcoming ballot include the firing of 200 election chiefs in regions where there were complaints about misconduct.

Abdullah is also calling on U.S. and Afghan forces to provide security to prevent a repeat of the August ballot's violence. He says he wants the Afghan people to participate without an "atmosphere of fear and intimidation."
© Copyright 2012, Associated Press