Abdullah quits Afghan election
Abdullah Abdullah pulls out of Afghan election
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By Tom Powell
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Sunday, 01, Nov 2009 04:48
Abdullah Abdullah has announced he will not take part in the Afghan election, leaving president Hamid Karzai unopposed in the runoff.
"I will not participate in the election," Dr Abdullah reportedly told supporters after calling an loya jirga, or grand assembly of elders.
The president's rival said his demands for a fraud-free election had not been met.
Dr Abdullah had asked for several ministers accused of vote-rigging to be sacked before the second vote, due to be held on November 7th.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has already said a vote without Dr Abdullah's participation would not be "unprecedented" and the result would still be legitimate.
Dr Abdullah has not called for a boycott of the election and there is growing speculation the rivals could broker a power-sharing deal instead.
The US wants to see a legitimate government in power before committing more troops to the region.