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Abdullah pulls out of Afghan vote Abdullah pulls out of Afghan vote
(10 minutes later)
President Hamid Karzai's rival in the second round of the Afghan presidential election has announced in Kabul that he is withdrawing from the poll.President Hamid Karzai's rival in the second round of the Afghan presidential election has announced in Kabul that he is withdrawing from the poll.
Abdullah Abdullah had set out conditions he wanted to be met for the contest to be considered fair. "I will not participate in the election," Dr Abdullah told supporters, adding that his demands for a ensuring a fraud-free election had not been met.
But Mr Karzai rejected his demand that election officials who presided over the first round should be dismissed. Mr Karzai rejected his demand that election officials who presided over the first round should be dismissed.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said a pull-out would not invalidate the legitimacy of the vote. Earlier, the US said a pull-out would not invalidate the vote's legitimacy.
"We see that happen in our own country where, for whatever combination of reasons, one of the candidates decides not to go forward," Mrs Clinton told reporters in the United Arab Emirates. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in the United Arab Emirates: "We see that happen in our own country where, for whatever combination of reasons, one of the candidates decides not to go forward."
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 Profile: Hamid Karzai Profile: Abdullah Abdullah Send us your commentsKARZAI 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 Profile: Hamid Karzai Profile: Abdullah Abdullah Send us your comments
But the BBC's Andrew North, in Kabul, says Dr Abdullah's withdrawal means this is uncharted territory, and it is unclear what will happen next.But the BBC's Andrew North, in Kabul, says Dr Abdullah's withdrawal means this is uncharted territory, and it is unclear what will happen next.
There has been much speculation that there could be some kind of deal which would see Dr Abdullah pull out - and possibly the emergence of a national unity government, our correspondent says.There has been much speculation that there could be some kind of deal which would see Dr Abdullah pull out - and possibly the emergence of a national unity government, our correspondent says.
There are many in Hamid Karzai's camp who have been saying in recent days that if Dr Abdullah did pull out they would still want President Karzai to go all the way through to a scheduled vote next Saturday.There are many in Hamid Karzai's camp who have been saying in recent days that if Dr Abdullah did pull out they would still want President Karzai to go all the way through to a scheduled vote next Saturday.
But, our correspondent adds, we know from many in the international community that there is great reluctance to see that happen.But, our correspondent adds, we know from many in the international community that there is great reluctance to see that happen.
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Hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted from August's first round of voting, which was marred by widespread allegations of fraud.Hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted from August's first round of voting, which was marred by widespread allegations of fraud.
An investigation by the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) led to Mr Karzai's share of the vote dropping to 49.67% - below the crucial 50% plus one vote threshold needed to avoid a second round.An investigation by the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) led to Mr Karzai's share of the vote dropping to 49.67% - below the crucial 50% plus one vote threshold needed to avoid a second round.
Mr Abdullah was adjudged in the end to have won about 31% of valid votes cast.Mr Abdullah was adjudged in the end to have won about 31% of valid votes cast.
The Tajik-Pashtun former eye surgeon served as foreign minister in the short-lived government headed by the Northern Alliance, and continued as "foreign minister in exile" throughout the years of Taliban rule, which ended in 2001.The Tajik-Pashtun former eye surgeon served as foreign minister in the short-lived government headed by the Northern Alliance, and continued as "foreign minister in exile" throughout the years of Taliban rule, which ended in 2001.
He continued in the role in the government that was formed by President Karzai after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, leaving it five years later.He continued in the role in the government that was formed by President Karzai after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, leaving it five years later.