UN envoy says Afghan vote fraud cannot be eliminated

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Eide said the independent election commission had assured him that polling station workers who had been directly involved with fraud, or who worked at polling stations where significant polling fraud occurred, would not work in the runoff.

There would be just 50,000 to 60,000 polling staff in the runoff election, down from 160,000 in August, he said.

Eide dismissed the possibility that reducing the number of workers would hamper the vote. He said fewer polling stations were required, since the August vote also included local polls.

He called for a public awareness campaign. "Many Afghans believe the elections are over and cannot understand that you need a second round," he said.

Karzai is widely expected to win the second round, largely because of his strong support among fellow Pashtuns, Afghanistan's largest ethnic group. He remains popular with many Afghans who see him as an experienced leader.

Abdullah is half Tajik and half Pashtun and is seen by some as a unifying candidate who can cross divisive ethnic lines.

(Editing by David Brunnstrom)