This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8337832.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Karzai declared elected president Karzai declared elected president
(10 minutes later)
Hamid Karzai has been declared the elected president of Afghanistan by poll officials, after they scrapped the planned second round of the vote.Hamid Karzai has been declared the elected president of Afghanistan by poll officials, after they scrapped the planned second round of the vote.
The Independent Election Commission announcement comes a day after Mr Karzai's sole challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, pulled out of the race.The Independent Election Commission announcement comes a day after Mr Karzai's sole challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, pulled out of the race.
Dr Abdullah, who had demanded key poll officials quit, said he did not think it would be a free and fair vote.Dr Abdullah, who had demanded key poll officials quit, said he did not think it would be a free and fair vote.
The first round of the vote, in August, was marred by mass electoral fraud.The first round of the vote, in August, was marred by mass electoral fraud.
"We declare Hamid Karzai, which [sic] got the majority of votes in the first round and is the only candidate for the second round of the election in Afghanistan in 2009... is the elected president of Afghanistan," said a spokesman for the Independent Election Commission in a news conference. "We declare Hamid Karzai, which [sic] got the majority of votes in the first round and [since] he is the only candidate for the second round... be declared as elected president of Afghanistan," said a spokesman for the Independent Election Commission in Monday's news conference.
He said the second round was being scrapped to save money, and to prevent further setbacks which could damage Afghanistan politically and economically. He said the second round on 7 November was being scrapped to save money, and to prevent further setbacks which could damage Afghanistan politically and economically.
President Karzai had been the favourite to win the run-off after gaining more votes in the first round on 20 August.President Karzai had been the favourite to win the run-off after gaining more votes in the first round on 20 August.
The BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says a key reason for holding a run-off was to try to restore some legitimacy to the election after the discredited first round. One of the reasons for holding a deciding vote had been to try to restore some legitimacy to the election after the discredited first round.
He says the cancellation of the 7 November vote seems the most unsatisfactory outcome to the whole process.
Earlier on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Kabul and said Afghanistan's troubled election had been among "the most difficult the United Nations has ever supported".Earlier on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Kabul and said Afghanistan's troubled election had been among "the most difficult the United Nations has ever supported".
The BBC's Lyse Doucet in Kabul says there has been intense discussion in recent days as to whether scrapping the second round would be constitutionally legal.
Some observers are saying Mr Karzai's legitimacy is also in question and asking whether his government can be effective, adds our correspondent.