Kerry: Afghanistan power grab would mean US aid cutoff, urges calm after dispute election
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says any action to seize power illegally in Afghanistan would lead to the end of U.S. financial and security support.
Kerry says suggestions of a "parallel government" in Afghanistan are a grave concern.
Afghan official released preliminary election results Monday showing former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the lead for the presidency.
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But millions of ballots are being checked for fraud and a spokesman for Ahmadzai's opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, has rejected the results and called releasing them a "coup."
Kerry says he expects Afghan electoral institutions to conduct a full review of all reasonable allegations of irregularities.
But he says there is no justification for violence or threats of extralegal action.
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He called on leaders to maintain calm.