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Thousands of Afghans protest alleged vote fraud

By WTOP Staff

AMIR SHAH
Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Thousands of supporters of an Afghan presidential candidate who has alleged massive fraud in a runoff vote marched Friday in the capital, suggesting the resignation of a top electoral official did little resolve the political impasse roiling the country.

Abdullah Abdullah, who has suspended ties with the main election commission over the allegations, joined thousands of protesters gathered in front of the presidential palace. The protesters shouted that they would not accept fraud and that Abdullah will be the next president.

Abdullah has said his campaign monitors recorded ballot box stuffing and other irregularities in the June 14 vote pitting him against Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai after the field was narrowed from eight candidates in the first round on April 5. Chief electoral officer Zia ul-Haq Amarkhail resigned Monday, denying any involvement in fraud but saying he would step down for the national interest.

But Abdullah, who garnered the most votes in the first round but failed to secure the majority needed to win outright, has maintained pressure and drew thousands of supporters into the streets of Kabul on Friday. The former foreign minister was a runner-up in the disputed 2009 vote that led to President Hamid Karzai’s re-election, which also was marred by widespread fraud allegations.

Protesters on Friday pointed a finger at Karzai, who was constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, in this year’s election as well.

“Death to Karzai,” the crowds chanted, waving Afghan flags. “Karzai we know you are behind the fraud.”

Karzai, the only leader it has known since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that ousted the Taliban, has denied any involvement in vote rigging and set Aug. 2 as the date for the inauguration of a new leader in a bid to show he is not seeking to hold onto power. According to the election commission’s official timetable, preliminary results are due on July 2 and final results on July 22.

Shopkeeper Ahmad Bashir said he and his entire family voted for Abdullah. “I hope the (Independent Election Commission) will stop the fraud… But if it doesn’t listen to our demands we will hold another protest. It’s our legitimate right.”

The standoff has undermined Western hopes for a smooth transfer of power ahead of the withdrawal of most foreign troops by the end of this year. Both candidates have promised to sign a security pact with the Obama administration that would allow nearly 10,000 American forces to remain in the country in a training capacity and to conduct counterterrorism operations. A disruption in the announcement of election results could mean another delay in finalizing that agreement, which was rebuffed by Karzai.

The next president will preside over a country that is still very much at war, with near-daily attacks on security forces and civilians, most blamed on Taliban insurgents.

A bomb stuck to a police car exploded, wounding five policemen Friday in Gardez, the capital of eastern Paktia province. A roadside bomb then struck a police car responding to the attack, killing two policemen and wounding 10 other people, including five civilians, provincial police chief Gen. Zalmai Oryakhail said.

Oryakhail said the attacks came a day after police backed by NATO airstrikes launched an operation in the province’s Sayed karam district, killing 29 Taliban fighters.

Six police also were killed and a seventh seriously wounded when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle late Thursday in the southern Kandahar province, police spokesman Zia Durrani said. In a separate incident, a district governor and his bodyguard were killed early Friday while riding on a motorcycle, the spokesman added.

In the southern Oruzgan province, authorities found the bodies of 10 Afghan police who went missing earlier this week, according to district governor Abdullah Khan.

The Taliban have stepped up attacks as part of their annual summer fighting season. A fierce weeklong assault in the southern Helmand province has killed dozens of people.

The U.S. Department of Defense also identified an American Marine who was killed Wednesday while conducting combat operations in Helmand. He was Sgt. Thomas Z. Spitzer, 23, of New Braunfels, Texas.

___

Associated Press writer Mirwais Khan in Kandahar, Afghanistan contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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