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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
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| Afghan election goes to run-off | Afghan election goes to run-off |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Afghanistan will hold a deciding round of its problem-hit presidential poll on 7 November, pitting Hamid Karzai against his rival Abdullah Abdullah. | Afghanistan will hold a deciding round of its problem-hit presidential poll on 7 November, pitting Hamid Karzai against his rival Abdullah Abdullah. |
| News of the run-off vote follows weeks of mounting international pressure. | News of the run-off vote follows weeks of mounting international pressure. |
| It comes a day after a UN-backed panel said it had clear evidence of fraud in August's first round, lowering Mr Karzai's vote share below 50%. | It comes a day after a UN-backed panel said it had clear evidence of fraud in August's first round, lowering Mr Karzai's vote share below 50%. |
| Mr Karzai told a news conference that he accepted the findings, adding they were a "step forward" for democracy. | Mr Karzai told a news conference that he accepted the findings, adding they were a "step forward" for democracy. |
| Mr Abdullah, speaking to the BBC, also said the move would "help democracy in this country and strengthen the faith of the people in the democratic process". | Mr Abdullah, speaking to the BBC, also said the move would "help democracy in this country and strengthen the faith of the people in the democratic process". |
| ANALYSIS Martin Patience, BBC News, Kabul | ANALYSIS Martin Patience, BBC News, Kabul |
| The Afghan leader thought - and perhaps still believes - that an election victory had been stolen from him because of "foreign meddling." | The Afghan leader thought - and perhaps still believes - that an election victory had been stolen from him because of "foreign meddling." |
| Now that a run-off has been scheduled, there will be questions raised as to whether it can be successfully organised to be held in two weeks time. | Now that a run-off has been scheduled, there will be questions raised as to whether it can be successfully organised to be held in two weeks time. |
| There will also be concerns over the security situation - and there's no guarantee that there won't be a repeat of the fraud, which seriously marred the first round of voting. Afghan poll - an uncertain future | There will also be concerns over the security situation - and there's no guarantee that there won't be a repeat of the fraud, which seriously marred the first round of voting. Afghan poll - an uncertain future |
| Initial results suggested Mr Karzai, the incumbent, had received 55% of the vote, and ex-Foreign Minister Mr Abdullah 28%. | Initial results suggested Mr Karzai, the incumbent, had received 55% of the vote, and ex-Foreign Minister Mr Abdullah 28%. |
| But the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) ordered that ballots from 210 polling stations be discounted. | But the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) ordered that ballots from 210 polling stations be discounted. |
| This meant Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below the 50% plus one vote threshold for outright victory, indicating a second round was needed. | This meant Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below the 50% plus one vote threshold for outright victory, indicating a second round was needed. |
| Since the disputed first round of polling, there has been intensive Western lobbying of Afghanistan's leaders to resolve the weeks of political paralysis. | Since the disputed first round of polling, there has been intensive Western lobbying of Afghanistan's leaders to resolve the weeks of political paralysis. |
| The White House - debating a request for 40,000 more US troops to be sent to Afghanistan - warned at the weekend no more soldiers would be deployed until a political resolution was reached. | The White House - debating a request for 40,000 more US troops to be sent to Afghanistan - warned at the weekend no more soldiers would be deployed until a political resolution was reached. |
| Correspondents say it was therefore not surprising to see Mr Karzai give his reaction to the run-off, at a news conference alongside UN envoy Kai Eide and US Senator John Kerry. | Correspondents say it was therefore not surprising to see Mr Karzai give his reaction to the run-off, at a news conference alongside UN envoy Kai Eide and US Senator John Kerry. |
| KARZAI V ABDULLAH Hamid Karzai: First popularly elected president of AfghanistanOpposed Soviet occupation in 1980sCritics say he has done little to rein in corruption Abdullah Abdullah: Tajik-Pashtun, doctor by professionSenior Northern Alliance leader during Taliban ruleRemoved from Karzai's cabinet in 2006 UN chief on Afghan poll Profile: Hamid Karzai Profile: Abdullah Abdullah | |
| "This is not the right time to discuss investigations, this is the time to move forward to stability and national unity," Mr Karzai said. | "This is not the right time to discuss investigations, this is the time to move forward to stability and national unity," Mr Karzai said. |
| "I call upon our nation to change this into an opportunity to strengthen our resolve and determination, to move our country forward and to participate in the new round of elections." | "I call upon our nation to change this into an opportunity to strengthen our resolve and determination, to move our country forward and to participate in the new round of elections." |
| Mr Abdullah told the BBC he had telephoned Mr Karzai to thank him for his remarks. | Mr Abdullah told the BBC he had telephoned Mr Karzai to thank him for his remarks. |
| "He talked about national unity and also he stressed on the need for going to the second round which is exactly what I want to do - so that was a courtesy call, a word of thanks," he said. | "He talked about national unity and also he stressed on the need for going to the second round which is exactly what I want to do - so that was a courtesy call, a word of thanks," he said. |
| He added: "I know that there are challenges with it; the security situation, and the winter is coming... but I think the fact that the process is moving now forward rather than being stuck, that in itself I consider it a step forward and we have to face the challenges." | He added: "I know that there are challenges with it; the security situation, and the winter is coming... but I think the fact that the process is moving now forward rather than being stuck, that in itself I consider it a step forward and we have to face the challenges." |
| Abdullah: 'It was an achievement' | Abdullah: 'It was an achievement' |
| The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says there will be no guarantee that any new vote will be free of the fraud that dogged the first round. | The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says there will be no guarantee that any new vote will be free of the fraud that dogged the first round. |
| But for now the political deadlock appears to have been broken, for a couple of weeks at least, our correspondent says. | But for now the political deadlock appears to have been broken, for a couple of weeks at least, our correspondent says. |
| Mr Karzai's decision was been warmly welcomed by world leaders. | Mr Karzai's decision was been warmly welcomed by world leaders. |
| US President Barack Obama described it as an important and constructive step forward. | US President Barack Obama described it as an important and constructive step forward. |
| "It is now vital that all elements of Afghan society continue to come together to advance democracy, peace and justice," he added. | "It is now vital that all elements of Afghan society continue to come together to advance democracy, peace and justice," he added. |
| US officials later said that the president had not yet determined whether to make a decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan before the runoff. | US officials later said that the president had not yet determined whether to make a decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan before the runoff. |
| Sen Kerry said a second round of voting was a great opportunity and a turning point, praising Mr Karzai for the "genuine leadership in the decision he has made". | Sen Kerry said a second round of voting was a great opportunity and a turning point, praising Mr Karzai for the "genuine leadership in the decision he has made". |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: "President Karzai's statement shows to all that he is a statesman who can decide on what is essential, in the higher interests of his country and of the unity of the Afghan people." | French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: "President Karzai's statement shows to all that he is a statesman who can decide on what is essential, in the higher interests of his country and of the unity of the Afghan people." |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also welcomed President Hamid Karzai's "statesmanlike" acceptance of the run-off. | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also welcomed President Hamid Karzai's "statesmanlike" acceptance of the run-off. |
| Meanwhile, correspondents say it is possible that President Karzai and his challenger may reach an agreement to form a national unity government, meaning that a run off may not be required. | Meanwhile, correspondents say it is possible that President Karzai and his challenger may reach an agreement to form a national unity government, meaning that a run off may not be required. |