Election officials in Afghanistan say they have dismissed some 50 employees for suspected fraud in last month's legislative elections.

Chief of operations for the joint U.N.-Afghan election commission, Richard Atwood, says more than 650 ballot boxes - or about three percent of votes - have been taken out of the counting process because of suspicions they were stuffed.

But Mr. Atwood ruled out a recount, saying the fraud was not widespread and does not affect the integrity of the election.

Accusations of irregularities in the count of the September 18 vote sparked demonstrations across the country.

Meanwhile, human rights advocates warned that many of the winning candidates have links to armed groups, and that at least two former members of the Taleban have been elected to parliament.