Afghan election commission says runoff canceled & declare Karzai president

[Turborama]

Source: AP

The chief officer on Afghanistan's election commission says Saturday's presidential runoff has been canceled.

Daoud Ali Najafi gave no details, but a second senior official on the commission also confirmed the second round has been called off.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9BNC2N00

---

Afghan election officials declare Karzai president

Source: Reuters

Election officials today declared Hamid Karzai the winner of Afghanistan's disputed presidential poll after cancelling a planned run-off following the withdrawal of his rival, Abdullah Abdullah.

"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," the commission's chief Azizullah Ludin told a news conference.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghan-election-officials-declare-karzai-president-1813401.html

---- --- ----

Afghan poll run-off 'cancelled'

Source: BBC

Next Saturday's Afghan presidential election run-off has been cancelled by the independent election commission, officials say.

The decision comes a day after sole challenger Abdullah Abdullah pulled out, leaving only President Hamid Karzai in the race.

=snip=

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.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8337832.stm

---- --- ----

President Obama's job of trying to fix Busch/Cheney's disastrous legacy just got a whole lot worse.

[peacebird]

1. off topic - LOVE your sig photo!!!

[Turborama]

3. hehe & I LOVE The Lorax!

[denem]

2. You've got to love a run off with ONE candidate - Ah ze alt daze.

[tekisui]

4. Easy enough, give it to the fraud who stole the first election.

[karynnj]

6. This article suggests that bad as he is, he might be our best bet

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/sns-ap-as-afghan-few-options-analysis,0,6756404.story?page=2

Also keep in mind, that Abdullah is said to have cheated as well and no one questions that Karzai got the most legitimate votes. The fact is that Abdullah had nothing to gain by staying in the race as it was extremely unlikely to be close. The stupid thing is that Karzai really should have made many of the changes Abdullah asked for before he asked for them. He was the overwhelming favorite and doing those things would have helped how he is perceived.

[No Elephants]

5. Karzai to US. "Now it's your move again. Whatcha got now?."

Has anyone ever tried the "no runoff of fraudulent election, just deciare the perp the winner" gambit on us before?

Besides the SCOTUS, I mean.

[EFerrari]

7. "Everyone under sixteen -- is now sixteen."

[smirkymonkey]

18. ROFL!

:rofl:

[bemildred]

8. What a mess. nt

[denem]

9. Australian Newpaper Headline "Karzai steals presidency

as Afghanistan's one-man poll cancelled."
http://www.smh.com.au/world/karzai-steals-presidency-as-afghanistans-oneman-poll-cancelled-20091102-htfz.html?autostart=1

[bemildred]

10. U.S. Congratulates Karzai on Winning Second Term

KABUL -- The United States and its allies have congratulated President Hamid Karzai on winning a second term following a proclamation by the country's election commission.

The Monday ruling ends a two-and-a-half month ordeal wrought with fraud, back-room negotiations and worries that the Afghan government might never regain credibility.

The U.S. embassy said in a statement that it looked forward to working with Karzai to support reform and improve security.

The statement said the commission's decision, made after Karzai's lone challenger withdrew, was "according to its mandate under Afghan law."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/02/congratulates-karzai-winning-second-term/

[Javaman]

11. The American goverment gets the puppet they deserve. nt

[dipsydoodle]

12. Karzai declared elected president

Source: BBC News

Hamid Karzai has been declared president of Afghanistan, after election officials scrapped a planned second round of voting.

The announcement comes a day after Mr Karzai's sole challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, pulled out of the race.

Dr Abdullah, who had demanded the removal of key poll officials, said the vote would not have been fair. The first round had been marred by fraud.

Key Nato allies of Afghanistan have congratulated Mr Karzai.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8337832.stm

[Taverner]

13. Cool. Let's go. We won. Time to bring em all back home

[mbperrin]

14. Yep. Absolutely. Bring 'em home now!

nt

[Taverner]

15. Declare victory, send them all a card, wish them the best

Apologize for trashing the place and come hhome

[Captain Hilts]

16. Let's be honest - he's THE best-dressed world leader. Points for style!

[ixion]

17. LOL @ 'elections' in Afghanistan

:rofl:

[IndianaGreen]

19. The only winner here is the Taliban

Karzai's narco regime is illegitimate!

[Vidar]

20. We're exporting our style of democracy--the glorious 2000 election exported

with corruption & fraud for all.