Karzai Widens Lead In Afghan Election Race

Afghan election officials have said that incumbent President Hamid Karzai has widened his lead in Afghanistan's presidential race.

The latest results say Karzai is ahead with 46.2 percent of the counted ballots against his top challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, who was said to have 31.4 percent.

The latest results are based on 35 percent of the country's polling stations.

Candidates need to win 50 percent of ballots to avoid a runoff election.

Final polling results are due in September after investigations into claims of voting fraud.

compiled from agency reports