Karzai wins second term as runoff cancelled

Hamid Karzai wins second term as president of Afghanistan

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Monday, 02, Nov 2009 06:05

By Sarah Garrod and Matthew Champion.

Hamid Karzai has been declared the elected president of Afghanistan after next weekend's runoff vote was cancelled.

The country's independent election commission (IEC) called off the second round after former foreign secretary Abdullah Abdullah pulled out over the weekend.

The IEC said Afghanistan's constitution said two candidates must participate in a second round of voting for it to take place, meaning Mr Karzai had been re-elected for a second term.

The first round was marred by fraudulent claims, with Dr Abdullah saying he did not believe the second round would be any fairer as he pulled out of the running.

Earlier today the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said, from the Afghan capital, that the elections had been "the most difficult the United Nations has ever supported".

At a news conference in Kabul the IEC said the "surprising" move of Dr Abdullah to pull out had created a "huge challenge" for Saturday's planned second round.

Citing the country's constitution, officials said a second round could only take place with the participation of the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round.

Concerns over the "huge expense" of holding an election with only one candidate and the uncertainty that surrounded threats to security and stability in the country were also cited.

"The independent electoral commission of Afghanistan decided that for the above mentioned reasons; we declare that Hamid Karzai, who got the majority of votes in the first round, is the only candidate for the second election and the elected president of Afghanistan," a spokesperson said.

"The IEC prays for the success and prosperity of Afghanistan."

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