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Abdullah Pulls Out of Runoff

Cites Karzai's refusal to reform election system

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 1, 2009 7:23 AM CST

(Newser) – The only contender to unseat Afghan President Hamid Karzai today followed through on his threat to boycott the runoff election slated for Nov. 7. Citing Karzai's refusal to overhaul the election system as impetus for his decision, Abdullah Abdullah declared a “transparent election is not possible” at a news conference—handing Karzai a second five-year term and potentially tossing the fragile country into an uproar.

Foreign diplomats in Afghanistan tell the New York Times that Abdullah's move could undermine Karzai's legitimacy or lead to violence—particularly if Abdullah denounced Karzai. While he did not, when asked if he would call for his supporters to boycott the runoff, Abdullah said only, "I have not made that call."

[Images (6)]

[Quotes (1)]

Afghan President Hamid Karzai refused Abdullah's demands to overhaul the election system to prevent a repeat of the widespread fraud in the initial round of voting. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

Afghanistan's presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah announces his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

Abdullah Abdullah takes a question during a press conference to announce his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

In this Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 picture, Abdullah Abdullah, former Afghan foreign minister who ran against President Hamid Karzai in August's vote, gives a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)

An Afghan man rides his bike under an election poster for Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

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We see that happen in our own country where, for whatever combination of reasons, one of the candidates decides not to go forward.
I don’t think it has anything to do with the legitimacy of the election.
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

Cat-Lover

Nov 1, 2009 8:53 AM CST

Easy to say, but bUSH is the cause of all that's wrong with America; if not directly, for creating an ambience where right-wing-war-mongering-religious zealots were given voice and credibility. Just look at Cheney and see what he hath created!

Cat-Lover

Nov 1, 2009 8:50 AM CST

"dontlikeyou:" I agree with you "good." Where I disagree with you is that now we should pull our troops out -- immediately -- let Afghanistan take care of itself and we strengthen up the border nations stopping anything from leaving or entering. I know Iran is a border nation, but we have lost control there, so it's time to play to our strengths. As for Iran, personally, I'd nuke 'em and worry about international opinion later.

Ucantusethatname

Nov 1, 2009 8:31 AM CST

It's time for Obamessiah to make a hard decision--and it's time for Caps to stop blaming Bush for everything that is wrong with the country. Future deaths of our troops are on O's hands.

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Abdullah Pulls Out of Runoff