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Hamid Karzai - Source: Reuters -
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai was returned to power after
election officials cancelled a needless run-off, but was warned he
would need to work harder to retain the West's support after a
flawed electoral process.
The government-appointed Independent Election Commission (IEC)
called off the November 7 presidential run-off a day after Karzai's
only rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, withdrew,
sparking concerted efforts to have the vote cancelled.
The IEC, which had said on Sunday the vote would proceed, said it
changed its mind to spare the Afghan people the expense and
security risk of staging a run-off with only one candidate.
IEC chief Azizullah Ludin told a news conference the commission was
also concerned a one-candidate race would raise concerns about the
legitimacy of the presidency. The first round in August was marred
by widespread fraud in favour of Karzai.
"The Independent Election Commission declares the esteemed Hamid
Karzai as the president ... because he was the winner of the first
round and the only candidate in the second round," Ludin said after
weeks of political uncertainty.
Abdullah withdrew on Sunday citing doubts about the fairness of the
process, sparking a frantic round of diplomatic efforts to have the
run-off cancelled. He said he was saddened by the challenges
Afghanistan still faces.
"This is not what our people deserved," Abdullah said. "I'll pursue
my agenda for reform and change."
But Karzai still has plenty of support, especially in the
Pashtun-dominated south and east. In Herat, an important commercial
hub near the Iran border, hundreds of people took to the streets,
dancing and singing in celebration.
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 and analysts said it was too late to remove fears
about Karzai's legitimacy and said the man who has ruled since
US-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in 2001 would have to
work much harder to retain the confidence of the West.
"The credibility of the Karzai government is not going to be simply
decided by this election, it will now be decided by the actions the
president takes over the coming days and weeks," said a Kabul-based
Western official who asked not to be named.
"The first test will be the formation of his cabinet. If he is
serious about reform we need to see that," he said.
Political expediency
But others described the outcome as political expediency. The
result came at the end of a tumultuous day, which included a
surprise visit by United Nations Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon.
"Not only are the citizens of NATO countries with forces fighting
here supposed to buy into this hastily cobbled together sham,
apparently the Afghan people are as well," said Norine MacDonald,
president of think-tank the International Council on Security and
Development. Ban and the US embassy in Kabul congratulated
Karzai.
"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,"
Ban said in a statement.
Many in the West see Karzai as a weak leader at the head of a
government riddled with corruption and foremost among those
challenges will be coming up with a cabinet acceptable to Afghans
and to the country's international partners.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had spoken to Karzai
about the need for reform.
"Afghanistan now needs new and urgent measures for tackling
corruption, strengthening local government and reaching out to all
parts of Afghan society, and to give the Afghan people a real stake
in their future," Brown said in a statement to parliament.
No choice
Analysts said Abdullah had emerged in a much strengthened position
and as the undoubted leader of Afghanistan's previously fractious
and divided opposition. Karzai would have no choice but to work
with him in future, they said.
"Karzai has lost his legitimacy, he is a very weak president and he
cannot govern without reaching out to Dr Abdullah," said
Kabul-based political analyst Haroun Mir.
Karzai's camp ruled out a power-sharing deal but now may have to
name some of Abdullah's team to key posts.
Abdullah said he was open to future talks but also said no deals
had been struck in return for his withdrawal, seen by diplomats as
one way to spare the country more uncertainty that discredits the
government and can only aid the insurgency.
