**The result of the presidential election in Afghanistan is due to be announced this weekend - two months after the poll marred by fraud allegations.**The outcome - after an investigation into the claims - could lead to a run-off between President Hamid Karzai and his main challenger Abdullah Abdullah.
International diplomacy stepped up ahead of the announcement from electoral officials.
World leaders have urged the two sides to resolve the dispute.
The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown all telephoned the candidates on Friday.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and US Senator John Kerry are visiting the capital, Kabul.
‘Likely’ winner
The election, held on 20 August, resulted in 55% of votes going to Mr Karzai, with his nearest rival, Abdullah Abdullah, getting 28%.
However, if the fraud investigation results in Mr Karzai’s vote total dropping below 50%, it could trigger a run-off.
Mrs Clinton told CNN: “It is likely that they will find that President Karzai got very close to the 50-plus-1” in the August vote.
She added: “I think one can conclude that the likelihood of him winning a second round is probably pretty high.”
The US is reviewing its strategy in Afghanistan.
Three American soldiers were killed in bomb attacks in the country as Nato-led forces fought Taleban militants.
Two of them died is eastern Afghanistan on Friday and one in southern Afghanistan, officials said.
The UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) is due to reports its findings during the weekend.
It will report to the Independent Election Commission which could adjust the final tally based on the report.
A run-off between Mr Karzai and Mr Abdullah would be due within two weeks, although security concerns and winter snows could hamper efforts.
Afghanistan’s ambassador to the US, Said Tayeb Jawad, has already said a run-off vote is likely, although a presidential spokesman said it was unlikely.