Afghan candidate's spokesman warns of violence if election dispute not resolved

KABUL, Afghanistan – A spokesman for Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah says powerful factional supporters are pressuring the candidate to not cede any power in an upcoming meeting with his rival that could cap a five-month standoff over a disputed election.

Mujib Rahman Rahimi said Saturday that an equitable power-sharing deal could defuse tensions, but that otherwise postelection violence could break out.

Spokesmen for the two candidates said Abdullah and his rival, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, are expected to meet late Saturday or Sunday to negotiate a final agreement on what powers a proposed chief executive position would have.

The election commission on Friday said it has finished a recount of ballots from the June runoff between the men. Both sides have alleged widespread voting fraud.