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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.
"I will not participate in the election," Dr Abdullah told supporters, saying his demands for ensuring a fraud-free election had not been met."I will not participate in the election," Dr Abdullah told supporters, saying his demands for ensuring a fraud-free election had not been met.
But he stopped short of calling for a boycott of next Saturday's vote.But he stopped short of calling for a boycott of next Saturday's vote.
Mr Karzai had rejected his demand that election officials who presided over the first round should be dismissed.Mr Karzai had rejected his demand that election officials who presided over the first round should be dismissed.
President Karzai's spokesman Waheed Omar said the withdrawal was "very unfortunate", but the election should go ahead as planned.President Karzai's spokesman Waheed Omar said the withdrawal was "very unfortunate", but the election should go ahead as planned.
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 comments Q&A: Afghan election
"The process has to complete itself, the people of Afghanistan have to be given the right to vote."The process has to complete itself, the people of Afghanistan have to be given the right to vote.
Earlier, the US said a pull-out would not invalidate the vote's legitimacy.Earlier, the US said a pull-out would not invalidate the vote's legitimacy.
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."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 comments Q&A: Afghan election
But the BBC's Andrew North, in Kabul, says Abdullah 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 Abdullah Abdullah's withdrawal means this is uncharted territory, and it is unclear what will happen next.
Asked by reporters if he was calling for his supporters to boycott the vote planned for next Saturday, Dr Abdullah said: "I have not made that call".Asked by reporters if he was calling for his supporters to boycott the vote planned for next Saturday, Dr Abdullah said: "I have not made that call".
There has been much speculation that there could be some kind of deal which would possibly see the emergence of a national unity government in the wake of Dr Abdullah's withdrawal, our correspondent says. There has been much speculation that there could be some kind of deal which would possibly see the emergence of a national unity government, our correspondent says.
But, our correspondent adds, we know from many in the international community that there is great reluctance to see that happen. While it is far from a done deal, talks are going on behind the scenes towards such a formation.
Instead there is a desire for the legal institutions of Afghanistan to come up with measures to bring the process to an end. Karzai camp reacts to Abdullah decision
But Dr Abdullah said his decision had not been made "in exchange for anything from anybody, but only and purely in the interests of the people of Afghanistan and to give the people of Afghanistan a chance to move on."
The international community is known to be very reluctant for the run-off to take place.
Instead there is a desire for the legal institutions of Afghanistan to come up with measures to bring the electoral process to an end.
A statement from the Afghan Election Commission is also expected.
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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.
Dr Abdullah was adjudged in the end to have won about 31% of valid votes cast.Dr Abdullah was adjudged in the end to have won about 31% of valid votes cast.
Emotion was clearly visible in Dr Abdullah's face as he announced his decision to pull out of the race to be Afghan leader on Sunday, our correspondent says.Emotion was clearly visible in Dr Abdullah's face as he announced his decision to pull out of the race to be Afghan leader on Sunday, our correspondent says.
The decision was given to his supporters at a meeting in a big tent in Kabul, where Afghanistan's first post-Taliban government was agreed eight years ago.The decision was given to his supporters at a meeting in a big tent in Kabul, where Afghanistan's first post-Taliban government was agreed eight years ago.
While it is in no way a done deal, there are talks going on towards the formation of a national unity government, our correspondent says.
A statement from the Afghan Election Commission is also expected.
Dr Abdullah - a 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.Dr Abdullah - a 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.