Kerry in Afghanistan to meet presidential candidates

London, July 11: US Secretary of State

arrived in

in a bid to mediate in the ongoing tensions over the country's disputed presidential elections, media reported on Friday.

Kerry will hold meetings with the two presidential candidates Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, as well as incumbent President Hamid Karzai and UN officials, BBC reported.

Preliminary results announced by Afghanistan's election officials secured Ghani 56.44 percent and Abdullah garnered 43.56 percent of votes in the June 14 run-off.

Both candidates have alleged fraud in the election.

Votes are being re-counted at more than 7,000 polling stations.

The final official numbers will be declared July 22.

Hamid Karzai is stepping down after more than 10 years as the Afghan president.

IANS