The Afghanistan Election Commission announced incumbent Hamid Karzai as the next president of Afghanistan and the winner of Afghan Elections.

The announcement came after Karzai’s rival Dr. Abdullah, the former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan declared his withdrawal from runoff on Sunday.

Azizullah  Ludin, the head of Election Commission announced on Monday Nov 02, 2009 that Karzai would be the next president of Afghanistan.

According to him, two rival- Karzai and Abdullah had a chance on runoff that was timed for November 7, 2009, but since Dr. Abdullah withdraw of the runoff, so Hamid Karzai is the winner.

IEC was accused of fraud in the first round of Elections in the interest of Hamid Karzai and the opening of thousands of ghost polling stations. Under the pressure of U.S, UN and European countries, the second round of elections scheduled for November 7.

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon was in Kabul and he met with Dr. Abdullah and his rival Hamid Karzai.

Ban Ki Moon arrived to Kabul to discuss about the security of UN staff in Afghanistan as well as the runoff elections with incumbent Karzai and his rival Dr. Abdullah.

Ban Ki Moon said; “ I have come to Kabul to express my solidarity with the UN staff and Afghan people at this difficult time. The advent of last week’s attack – I wanted to see the security situation at first hand, and I wanted to talk directly with my own dear colleagues with whom I had three meetings.”

He also welcomed the decision of Afghan Election Commission over the declaration of Hamid Karzai as the next president of Afghanistan and congratulated him.

 “I welcome today’s decision by Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission to forego a run-off vote and to declare Hamid Karzai as the winner of the 2009 presidential elections. I congratulate President Karzai.” Moon said.

“This has been a difficult election process for Afghanistan and lessons must be learned. Afghanistan now faces significant challenges and the new President must move swiftly to form a Government that is able to command the support of both the Afghan people and the international community.” He added this during his press conference with Journalists in Kabul.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the rival to incumbent Hamid Karzai in Afghan elections, announced on Sunday, November 01, 2009 that he withdraw the runoff elections.

Dr. Abdullah, the former foreign minister of Afghanistan and the strong rival to President Hamid Karzai in the elections during a press conference in his house in Kabul said that he decided to withdraw the runoff because Afghan government refused his conditions.

Last week Abdullah introduced a series of condition for Afghan government including the discharge of head of Afghan Election Commission to avoid another fraud in the runoff.

During the press conference, Abdullah said; “due to the inadequate actions of Afghan government and Afghan Election Commission, I don’t participate in Nov.7 runoff election.”

Abdullah said that he took his decision for withdrawal of runoff elections, after discussions and reflections with Afghan people.

Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah announced his decision to quit six days before the runoff election, after talks between Abdullah and Karzai failed to produce a power-sharing government in the country.

Following the widespread fraud in the first round on August 20, Abdullah demanded Karzai sack the IEC's head, Azizullah Ludin, and suspend four ministers who campaigned for the incumbent.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it is now belong to Afghan authorities to decide “brings this electoral process to a conclusion in line with the Afghan constitution."

“I recognize the decision by Dr. Abdullah Abdullah not to participate in the second round of balloting in the Afghan presidential elections. He ran a dignified and constructive campaign that drew the support of Afghan people across the nation.” Hillary Clinton said in a press release.

“It is now a matter for the Afghan authorities to decide on a way ahead that brings this electoral process to a conclusion in line with the Afghan constitution. We will support the next President and the people of Afghanistan, who seek and deserve a better future.”

Taliban attacks were the major factors that Afghan runoff was facing since the Taliban militants vowed to speed up their attacks during the runoff.  

Written by Rahim Aria

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Photo: CNN