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Rival attacks Karzai in TV debate Karzai's warlord links challenged
(about 3 hours later)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been accused by a rival during a live TV election debate of lacking a plan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been challenged about his alliances with warlords in a live TV election debate.
Ahead of Thursday's presidential poll, Mr Karzai faced two rivals: independent MP Ramazan Bashardost and ex-finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. Ahead of Thursday's presidential poll, Mr Karzai was taken to task by two rival candidates, ex-ministers Ramazan Bashardost and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
Criticising the incumbent, Mr Ghani said Afghanistan needed a president with a "clear and specific" strategy. But Mr Karzai defended his alliances in the 90-minute debate, saying they served the interests of national unity.
Another main contender, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, did not take part in the debate. Meanwhile, Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ex-warlord who was Mr Karzai's military chief-of-staff, has returned to Kabul.
Last month, Mr Karzai was lambasted for not taking part in a live TV debate. He said at the time it would have been biased. If for national unity, there is need for such convenience, a thousand times I will do that Hamid Karzai,Afghan President class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8173389.stm">Afghan elections: Main candidates class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8204207.stm">Row over Afghan wife-starving law class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8203711.stm">Deaths take UK Afghan toll to 201
My dears [the Taliban], give up these activities as you have brought misery to your people Hamid KarzaiAfghan President class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8173389.stm">Afghan elections: Main candidates class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8204207.stm">Row over Afghan wife-starving law class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8203711.stm">Deaths take UK Afghan toll to 201 The Uzbek commander arrived from Turkey, where he has been living in exile since last year.
The Afghan president is tipped as the leading candidate in a crowded field of three dozen contenders vying to win a five-year term. An official at the US embassy in Kabul said questions remained about Mr Dostum's alleged involvement in human rights violations.
During Sunday's TV debate, Mr Ghani defended the presence of foreign troops in the country, but said strong Afghan leadership was needed to make it effective. Also on Sunday, the Taliban warned voters to boycott this week's poll or risk becoming caught up in militant attacks on voting stations.
"Until we have an owner for this land and a president who has a clear and specific Afghan strategy, and who is able to convince the world that his strategy is better, more practical and produces results, all other efforts will be useless," he said. Thursday's vote is for a president and members of the provincial council.
Mr Karzai appealed during the TV debate to the Taliban to stop fighting. Backroom deals?
"My dears, you have been incited against your own ethnic group; give up these activities as you have brought misery to your people," he said. The televised head-to-head was the first debate the Afghan president has participated in for the forthcoming election.
He expressed support for America, but also called for an end to coalition air strikes resulting in civilian casualties. Final preparations are in full swing for the poll, despite militant threats
"This war should be launched on terrorist sanctuaries rather than on our land, villages and houses; and stop bombing my land," he said. However, the man seen as Mr Karzai's strongest challenger, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, did not take part.
But the Taliban reportedly warned voters on Sunday to boycott this week's poll or risk becoming caught up in militant attacks on voting stations, in leaflets distributed around the south of the country. Mr Karzai is tipped as the leading candidate in a crowded field of several dozen contenders vying to win a five-year term.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP news agency: "We are using new tactics targeting election centres... We will accelerate our activities on election day and the day before." Mr Bashardost, an outspoken anti-corruption campaigner and former planning minister, who is seen as the third most-popular candidate, attacked the incumbent over his political allies.
"There are those who claim they are fighting warlords, but today warlords have the main role in their campaign, and [one] is their first vice-president. This is not acceptable for the people of Afghanistan," said Mr Bashardost.
Mr Karzai has chosen Mohammed Qasim Fahim, a former Tajik warlord, as his number two on the presidential ticket.
Ex-finance minister Mr Ghani also took aim at Mr Karzai's alliances, saying: "I have not struck any deals with any warlord, have not given any ministry, governor's position, or a part of Afghanistan to any of them."
Correspondents say many Afghans and diplomats fear any backroom deals made in an effort to help Mr Karzai's election campaign could empower old warlords and set back efforts to improve Afghanistan.
But Mr Karzai told his two rivals: "If for the national interest, for progress, for national unity, avoiding war... there is need for more such convenience, once again I will seek that. A thousand times I will do that."