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Barack Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan held an "explosive" meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai over the country's election.
Richard Holbrooke raised concerns about ballot-stuffing and fraud by a number of the candidates' teams and warned that American patience with the country is running out.
The pair have met twice since the presidential election last week, including a lunch in Kabul that turned "tense" when the envoy twice raised the possibility of a second-round run-off.
The meeting was described as "explosive" and "a dramatic bust-up".
Mr Holbrooke is believed to have complained about fraud by some members of the president's campaign team, as well as other candidates. Mr Karzai reacted very angrily and the meeting ended shortly afterwards.
Government corruption and Mr karzai's close ties with former militia leaders have eroded his support, with the Afghan people and with Washington politicians.
The Obama administration was particularly disturbed by Mr Karzai's last-minute alliance with Uzbek General Abdul Rashid Dostum.
US officials say Mr Dostom, who fought for Afghanistan's Soviet-backed communist government and later switched sides repeatedly during years of civil war, may be responsible for war crimes.
Mr Karzai justified the move, telling officials he believed Mr Dostum, who enjoys the overwhelming backing of ethnic Uzbeks in the north of Afghanistan, delivered key votes for him.
There have been many doubts raised about turnout and irregularities in the election. But this is the first time that a leading Western official has expressed them so openly.
Mr Karzai would need more than 50 per cent of the vote to avoid a run-off, but results in so far show a close race with his leading challenger, Abdullah Abdullah.
Tensions flared the day after the election, when Mr Karzai's campaign angered Washington by declaring victory, even though none of the results had been released by the country's independent election commission.
The US had hoped a free and fair poll would demonstrate that stability was within reach in Afghanistan and worth the steep price in dollars, time and American lives. August is likely to be the deadliest month for US forces since the war began eight years ago. So far, 44 troops have died.
