Afghan election run-off 'cancelled'
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Next Saturday's Afghan presidential election run-off has been cancelled by the independent election commission, officials say, reports BBC.
The decision comes a day after sole challenger Abdullah Abdullah pulled out, leaving only President Hamid Karzai in the race.
Dr Abdullah, who had demanded key poll officials quit, said he was quitting as he did not think it would be fair.
The first round of the vote in August was marred by mass electoral fraud.
President Karzai had been the favourite to win the run-off after gaining more votes in the first round on 20 August.
The BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says a key reason for holding a run-off was to try to restore some legitimacy to the election after the discredited first round.
He says the cancellation of the 7 November vote seems the most unsatisfactory outcome to the whole process.
Earlier Monday, UN chief Ban Ki-Moon made a surprise visit to Afghanistan Monday as pressure grew to abandon plans for a risky run-off vote after the withdrawal of President Hamid Karzai's only rival.
The withdrawal of former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah from the November 7 run-off has cast doubts over the legitimacy of the next government, which almost certainly will be led by Karzai.
Behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts gathered pace after the Afghan government-appointed Independent Election Commission said Saturday's run-off would go ahead with Karzai as the only candidate.
Ban ki-Moon will meet both Karzai and Abdullah to discuss development work, a U.N. statement said.
"The Secretary-General will also meet Dr Abdullah Abdullah and President Hamid Karzai to assure them and the Afghan people of the continuing support of the United Nations toward the development of the country and the humanitarian assistance that the UN provides to millions of Afghans everyday," a U.N. statement said.
A weakened Afghan government under Karzai would be a blow for US President Barack Obama as he considers whether to send up to 40,000 more troops to fight a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan.
Western officials in Kabul refused to confirm even if they were in discussions with the IEC but privately acknowledge a run-off with Karzai as the only candidate would cast serious doubts over the credibility of his government.
The decision comes a day after sole challenger Abdullah Abdullah pulled out, leaving only President Hamid Karzai in the race.
Dr Abdullah, who had demanded key poll officials quit, said he was quitting as he did not think it would be fair.
The first round of the vote in August was marred by mass electoral fraud.
President Karzai had been the favourite to win the run-off after gaining more votes in the first round on 20 August.
The BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says a key reason for holding a run-off was to try to restore some legitimacy to the election after the discredited first round.
He says the cancellation of the 7 November vote seems the most unsatisfactory outcome to the whole process.
Earlier Monday, UN chief Ban Ki-Moon made a surprise visit to Afghanistan Monday as pressure grew to abandon plans for a risky run-off vote after the withdrawal of President Hamid Karzai's only rival.
The withdrawal of former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah from the November 7 run-off has cast doubts over the legitimacy of the next government, which almost certainly will be led by Karzai.
Behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts gathered pace after the Afghan government-appointed Independent Election Commission said Saturday's run-off would go ahead with Karzai as the only candidate.
Ban ki-Moon will meet both Karzai and Abdullah to discuss development work, a U.N. statement said.
"The Secretary-General will also meet Dr Abdullah Abdullah and President Hamid Karzai to assure them and the Afghan people of the continuing support of the United Nations toward the development of the country and the humanitarian assistance that the UN provides to millions of Afghans everyday," a U.N. statement said.
A weakened Afghan government under Karzai would be a blow for US President Barack Obama as he considers whether to send up to 40,000 more troops to fight a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan.
Western officials in Kabul refused to confirm even if they were in discussions with the IEC but privately acknowledge a run-off with Karzai as the only candidate would cast serious doubts over the credibility of his government.