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Karzai Rival Says He Is Withdrawing From Runoff
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by Babel-Fish | November 1, 2009 at 02:19 am
92 views | 14 Recommendations | 5 comments
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This causes a big problem for President Obama, without an elected government Afghanistan can not be handed over.
KABUL, Afghanistan — Abdullah Abdullah, the chief rival to President Hamid Karzai, announced on Sunday that he would withdraw from the Nov. 7 Afghan runoff election, effectively handing a new term to Mr. Karzai but potentially damaging the government’s credibility.
Speaking at a news conference, Mr. Abdullah said that the Afghan people should not accept the results of an election run by the country’s Independent Electoral Commission, which has been accused of favoring Mr. Karzai.
“I will not participate in the Nov. 7 election,” Mr. Abdullah said, because a “transparent election is not possible.”
Mr. Abdullah said that Mr. Karzai’s government had not been legitimate since May, when the initial round of balloting was originally to have taken place.
Before Mr. Abdullah’s announcement, American and other West
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rishsafed
Malden, Massachusetts, United States
MilanSturgis
Washington, District Of Columbia, United States
Recommendations (14)
everchanging
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Hugh Askew
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Uwe Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (5)
at 05:13 on November 1st, 2009
Abdullah said it rather clearly, no use running for it will be rigged.
at 05:19 on November 1st, 2009
This is not a total surprise, the question remains as you said Babel what can we achieve if their is no legally elected government. I agree this is a big problem.
at 05:29 on November 1st, 2009
Big problem? Maybe a HUGE problem.
Everything Obama does with regard to Karzai and Afghanistan will be questioned. Everything will be prefaced with, "Many question the legitimacy of the Karzai government.....".
Wonder how many more will turn to violence? This is not good.
at 05:51 on November 1st, 2009
Hillary Clinton says that the Karzai gov will be legitimate. Her reasoning is that he agreed to the run-off election. Of course it doesn't matter how the Administration spins it, it all depends on how the Afghan people see it.
I agree with you HA this is a big problem.
at 12:20 on November 2nd, 2009
How can or will the world change when threats, corruption and dishonesty are forced upon those that stand for the change and with honor decide to decline and live to fight another day. I give Mr. Abdullah credit, honor & respect for running, standing and willing remaining alive, while running against Mr. Karzai who has continually shown his tendency to be only another tyrant - Mr. Karzai has no respect for human rights and for the honor and respect of the people of Afghanistan or him self.
What was this election for, other then wasted time and blood spent only to show that it is politics corruped and fixed.
Everchanging
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"The cancellation of Saturday's vote came one day after former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah announced he was pulling out of the Nov. 7 vote. Abdullah said the ballot would not have been fair and accused the Karzai-appointed Independent Election Commission of bias."
"We congratulate President Karzai on his victory in this historic election and look forward to working with him" to support reform and improve security, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. Britain and the United Nations also issued statements of congratulations."
Source: chicago tribune