Personnel in Afghanistan helicopter crash named by MoD
Personnel in Afghanistan helicopter crash named by MoD Subscribe for the latest news from PA: http://bit.ly/RvMVLq Captain Thomas Clarke, Warrant Officer Spencer Faulkner and Corporal James...
By: Press Association
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Personnel in Afghanistan helicopter crash named by MoD - Video
April 24, 2014: Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah listens during an interview at his residence in Kabul, Afghanistan.AP
The Afghanistan presidential election -- the first in 13 years -- appears headed for runoff, after full preliminary results released Saturday show former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah receiving the most votes but failing to reach the 50 percent threshold.
Abdullah garnered 44.9 percent of the vote, putting him ahead of ex-Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, who came in second with 31.5 percent, said the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, Ahmad Yousuf Nouristani.
The preliminary results are to be finalized on May 14 after investigations into fraud complaints, and the runoff should be held within 15 days of the final results.
The candidates are vying to replace President Hamid Karzai, the only president Afghans have known since the 2001 United States-led invasion to topple the Taliban's hard-line Islamic regime.
Zalmai Rassoul -- Karzais favored candidate and a foreign minister for the outgoing president -- apparently failed to advance into the runoff, after trailing through the campaigns.
Ahmadzai and Abdullah were the front-runners. Ahmadzai is also a former World Bank executive, and Abdullah is an opposition leader.
The winner will oversee a tumultuous period as the U.S. and NATO are expected to withdraw most of their troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year. Karzai, whose relations with Washington have sharply deteriorated, was constitutionally barred from running for a third term.
Abdullah and Ahmadzai have promised a fresh start with the West and have vowed to move ahead a security pact with the U.S. that Karzai has refused to sign. That pact would allow a small force of American soldiers to stay in the country to continue training Afghan army and police to fight the Taliban.
The Obama administration has lauded the relatively peaceful campaigns and election but has so far stayed neutral about the candidates and the results.
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Afghanistan presidential election ends with no clear winner, runoff expected in May
Five British servicemen killed when the Lynx helicopter they were travelling in crashed in southern Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence.
Captain Thomas Clarke, Warrant Officer Spencer Faulkner, Corporal James Walters, all of the Army Air Corps (AAC) lost their lives together with Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan of the Royal Air Force and Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas of the Intelligence Corps.
Their aircraft went down in Kandahar province during a routine flight yesterday morning.
Story continues after slideshow...
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has denied claims by the Taliban that insurgents shot the helicopter down, with initial investigations indicating a "tragic accident" rather than enemy action.
Group Captain Richard Maddison, Station Commander at RAF Odiham, said: "I am extremely saddened to hear of the loss of Captain Thomas Clarke, Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan, Warrant Officer Spencer Faulkner and Corporal James Walters, all who served at Royal Air Force Odiham.
"My deepest sympathies are with their families and friends at this most difficult time, and also with the family of Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas, who was not from Royal Air Force Odiham but who was also on the Lynx aircraft."
The incident brings the total number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan to 453.
It is thought to be the third deadliest incident involving British forces in the war and the worst air disaster since September 2006, when 14 service personnel were killed in a Nimrod surveillance aircraft which exploded mid-air.
The Station Commander described the men based at RAF Odiham in north Hampshire as "professional and enthusiastic".
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Afghanistan Helicopter Crash Victims Named
In this picture taken on Saturday, April 26, 2014, Afghan youth save their belongings from the water after a flood at Jawzjan province northern Afghanistan. An official says flooding in northern Afghanistan has killed more than 100 people and driven hundreds more from their homes. The Afghan National Army was using helicopters to rescue people trapped by the waters and ferry food and water to remote areas. (AP Photo)The Associated Press
In this picture taken on Saturday, April 26, 2014, dead bodies of Afghan people are seen after a flood at Jawzjan province northern Afghanistan. An official says flooding in northern Afghanistan has killed more than 100 people and driven hundreds more from their homes. The Afghan National Army was using helicopters to rescue people trapped by the waters and ferry food and water to remote areas. (AP Photo)The Associated Press
In this picture taken on Saturday, April 26, 2014, an Afghan national army doctor helps an injured child after a flood at Jawzjan province northern Afghanistan. An official says flooding in northern Afghanistan has killed more than 100 people and driven hundreds more from their homes. The Afghan National Army was using helicopters to rescue people trapped by the waters and ferry food and water to remote areas. (AP Photo)The Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan An official says flooding in northern Afghanistan has killed more than 100 people and driven hundreds more from their homes.
The Afghan National Army was using helicopters to rescue people trapped by the waters and ferry food and water to remote areas.
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority official said Sunday that that 111 dead bodies have been found so far form Sari Pul, Zawzjan, Faryab and Badghis provinces. Around 20 other people are still missing. The official spoke by telephone on condition of anonymity because he is not an authorized spokesman.
The floods were fed by heavy rains late in the week. The official said about 1,000 people have fled their villages, after losing their houses, crops and livestock.
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Afghanistan flooding kills more than 100
Abdullah extends lead in Afghanistan election tally
Former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah has extended his lead in the Afghan presidential race, according to the latest tally although half of the votes mus...
By: euronews (in English)
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Abdullah extends lead in Afghanistan election tally - Video