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Afghan election goes to run-off Afghan election goes to run-off
(30 minutes 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.
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%.
ANALYSIS Martin Patience, BBC News, KabulANALYSIS Martin Patience, BBC News, Kabul
It was no coincidence that the American, British and French ambassador were all in attendance at the palace when Mr Karzai spoke. It was no coincidence that the UN special envoy to the country and various ambassadors were at the presidential palace to hear the announcement.
They will breathe a collective sigh of relief. US Senator John Kerry - who stood beside the Afghan leader - played a pivotal role in persuading President Karzai to accept the need for a second round.
There will absolutely no guarantee that any second round of voting will be free of the fraud that dogged the first round. The Afghan leader thought - and perhaps still believes - that an election victory had been stolen from him because of "foreign meddling."
But for now the political deadlock appears to have been broken, for a couple of weeks at least. 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.
And it is also possible that the President Karzai and his challenger Dr Abdullah Abdullah may reach an agreement to form a national unity government, meaning that a run-off might not be required.
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.
"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."
Fazel Sangcharaki, spokesman for Dr Abdullah Abdullah, said: "We had hoped the president would accept the second round and we are ready and fully prepared for a second round."
The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says there will be concerns about the logistics of a second vote - about getting ballots out into the provinces and also about the security situation.The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says there will be concerns about the logistics of a second vote - about getting ballots out into the provinces and also about the security situation.
There will also be absolutely no guarantee that any new vote will be free of the fraud that dogged the first round, our correspondent says.There will also be absolutely no guarantee that any new vote will be free of the fraud that dogged the first round, our correspondent says.
But for now the political deadlock appears to have been broken, for a couple of weeks at least.But for now the political deadlock appears to have been broken, for a couple of weeks at least.
'Statesmanlike' Mr Karzai's decision was been warmly welcomed by world leaders.
US President Barack Obama welcomed Mr Karzai's statement, describing 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."
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.