MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (AFP) -- Protests are likely in northern Afghanistan if President Hamid Karzai is declared the winner of fraud-tainted elections, supporters of his main challenger warned Saturday.

Karzai -- seeking a second five-year term amid vote-rigging claims -- and ex-foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah are waiting to hear the findings of an investigation into suspect ballots, which could set the stage for a run-off.
Abdullah supporters in his northern powerbase told AFP there should be a second round and that people could take to the streets if Karzai is returned to power, raising questions about the legitimacy of his government.
Karzai leads preliminary results with around 55 percent of the vote. He needs 50 percent plus one vote to be declared the winner.
His main rival Abdullah Abdullah has around 28 percent.
Electoral officials are still wrangling over the details of a final decision, sources close to the process said, with an announcement that had been expected Saturday possibly delayed for some days.
“The people of Balkh will not keep quiet. They will react,” said Abdullah's campaign manager in the province, Zalmai Yunusi, warning that “jihadi figures in Balkh will stand against the government”.
In neighboring Kunduz, Abdullah's campaign manager and lawmaker Qari Rehmatullah, said: “Fraud was so obvious in this election.
“If despite fraud Karzai is elected, this will make an illegitimate government and an illegitimate president. People will defend their legal rights.
“They will protest, strike and demonstrate. If people are not permitted to react and if force is used against them, then they will resort to similar measures.”
On the street in the town of Balkh, Mohammad Sadiq, 34, said: “We will not accept Karzai as president through fraudulent votes. We, the nation of Balkh, will not keep quiet and will stand against the government.”
Motorbike seller Haseebullah Ehsan, 42, added: “If Karzai is announced the winner, for us it will not acceptable. Forty percent of the votes Karzai got were fraudulent and the election should go to a second round.”
Karzai's supporters have rejected calls for another round of voting, after a low first-round turn-out because of fears of Taliban violence.
Sardar Sayidi, the president's campaign manager in the north, said: “There should be no second round. Our votes must be respected and the winner, whoever it is, should be announced.