Kabul: Afghanistan`s run-off election will
take place as scheduled this week despite the withdrawal of
President Hamid Karzai`s only challenger, the election
commission said Sunday.
"The deadline to withdraw has passed, therefore the
commission is determined to conduct a run-off election," the
government-appointed Independent Election Commission`s chief
electoral officer, Daoud Ali Najafi, said.
"We`ll go for a run-off as scheduled," Najafi added.
Former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah said he
would not participate in the November 7 vote, but when asked,
Najafi said the commission would still be counting his votes.
"Yes, just as we did in the first round when
candidates pulled out after the timetable given for them to
announce their withdrawal. Their votes were counted," he said.
Abdullah has been fiercely critical of the IEC, which
is seen as pro-Karzai, citing the President`s refusal to sack
the commission`s chairman Azizullah Ludin as one of the
reasons for his withdrawal.
The first round of the election on August 20 was
tainted by widespread fraud which eventually saw around a
quarter of all votes declared invalid after a probe by a
UN-backed watchdog.
‘Karzai to respect ruling’
President Hamid Karzai will respect
any legal ruling on Afghanistan`s run-off election and regrets
his challenger Abdullah Abdullah`s withdrawal from the
contest, his office said today.
"We regret the announcement of Dr Abdullah to not
participate in the second round of the elections," it said in
a statement.
"In the light of Afghanistan`s Constitution and for
the sake of democracy and rule of law in Afghanistan, we
remain committed and bound to respect the process and will
accept any decisions by the Independent Election Commission
and other legal institutions."
Brown urges Abdullah on democracy
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
today urged opposition candidate Abdullah Abdullah to support
the democratic process in Afghanistan after he pulled out of
the run-off Presidential Election.
"This decision was clearly carefully considered, and I
welcome Abdullah`s readiness to play a continued role in the
national dialogue," Brown said.
"I am confident that Afghanistan`s leaders will support
the remaining steps of the democratic process."
Brown said he hoped an Afghan government that responds to
the will of the people emerges following the decision of
President Hamid Karzai`s main rival to withdraw from the
run-off in the wake of massive fraud in the first round.
The Prime Minister said: "Along with the whole
international community, including our over 40 international
partners in Afghanistan, we hope to see an Afghan government
emerge that responds to the will of the people, that reaches
out to all parts of Afghan society, and that is ready to take
strong action to meet the challenges that Afghanistan faces.
"We are ready to work in close partnership with such a
government."
Bureau Report
