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| Afghanistan’s Karzai calls for candidates Abdullah, Ghani to put aside differences | Afghanistan’s Karzai calls for candidates Abdullah, Ghani to put aside differences |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KABUL — Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday his successor must be chosen soon to “salvage the country,” which appeared to grow more volatile as the day progressed. | KABUL — Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday his successor must be chosen soon to “salvage the country,” which appeared to grow more volatile as the day progressed. |
| In a rare public statement since he’s been forced to postpone his departure from office, Karzai addressed hundreds of Afghan leaders gathered in the capital to honor a slain guerrilla commander. | In a rare public statement since he’s been forced to postpone his departure from office, Karzai addressed hundreds of Afghan leaders gathered in the capital to honor a slain guerrilla commander. |
| Karzai pleaded with the audience to join him in pressuring Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah to put aside their differences so they can form a national unity government. | Karzai pleaded with the audience to join him in pressuring Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah to put aside their differences so they can form a national unity government. |
| “Afghanistan is in dire and urgent need of a new government,” Karzai said, as Abdullah and Ghani looked on from the front row of the auditorium. “Our tenure has expired. We want a new government, and Mr. Abdullah and Mr. Ghani can bring us that new government through their unity.” | “Afghanistan is in dire and urgent need of a new government,” Karzai said, as Abdullah and Ghani looked on from the front row of the auditorium. “Our tenure has expired. We want a new government, and Mr. Abdullah and Mr. Ghani can bring us that new government through their unity.” |
| United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also urged Ghani and Abdullah in a statement Tuesday to quickly reach an agreement that assures Afghanistan’s first peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box. | United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also urged Ghani and Abdullah in a statement Tuesday to quickly reach an agreement that assures Afghanistan’s first peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box. |
| “Both parties share a real responsibility to guide Afghanistan to a peaceful and more prosperous future,” the statement said. “Given the scale of the challenges, this can only be done jointly.” | “Both parties share a real responsibility to guide Afghanistan to a peaceful and more prosperous future,” the statement said. “Given the scale of the challenges, this can only be done jointly.” |
| The challenge facing the United Nations, as well as the United States and its NATO allies, in encouraging a smooth transition appeared to grow even more complicated this week. | The challenge facing the United Nations, as well as the United States and its NATO allies, in encouraging a smooth transition appeared to grow even more complicated this week. |
| Alleging that a June runoff election between the two men was fraudulent, Abdullah, a former foreign minister, on Monday declared himself the winner and said he would not accept Ghani taking power through “fraudulent means.” The audited election results, however, are expected to deliver the presidency to Ghani, a former finance minister . | Alleging that a June runoff election between the two men was fraudulent, Abdullah, a former foreign minister, on Monday declared himself the winner and said he would not accept Ghani taking power through “fraudulent means.” The audited election results, however, are expected to deliver the presidency to Ghani, a former finance minister . |
| After Karzai spoke Tuesday, former Afghan president Sibghatullah Mojadidi, a Ghani supporter, walked onto the stage to speak. But the heavily pro-Abdullah crowd began jeering and taunting him. Abdullah urged his supporters to remain calm, but the ruckus continued and Karzai abruptly left the auditorium. Mojadidi also left the stage. | After Karzai spoke Tuesday, former Afghan president Sibghatullah Mojadidi, a Ghani supporter, walked onto the stage to speak. But the heavily pro-Abdullah crowd began jeering and taunting him. Abdullah urged his supporters to remain calm, but the ruckus continued and Karzai abruptly left the auditorium. Mojadidi also left the stage. |
| The scene, which Afghanistan’s Tolo News described as “chaos,” will likely raise questions about how much control Abdullah would have over his followers if election-related disturbances erupt in the coming days. | The scene, which Afghanistan’s Tolo News described as “chaos,” will likely raise questions about how much control Abdullah would have over his followers if election-related disturbances erupt in the coming days. |
| And on Tuesday, concerns about potential violence rose as some Abdullah supporters put on a show-of-force on the streets of the capital. | And on Tuesday, concerns about potential violence rose as some Abdullah supporters put on a show-of-force on the streets of the capital. |
| Hundreds of men — many carrying assault rifles or knives — arrived in Kabul to honor Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated by al-Qaeda operatives two days before the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. They paraded around the city in trucks and cars plastered with Massoud and Abdullah posters, at times firing bullets in the air. | Hundreds of men — many carrying assault rifles or knives — arrived in Kabul to honor Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated by al-Qaeda operatives two days before the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. They paraded around the city in trucks and cars plastered with Massoud and Abdullah posters, at times firing bullets in the air. |
| Celebratory gunfire is common in Afghanistan, but the sight of heavily armed men patrolling Kabul streets is likely to exacerbate concerns about armed conflict if Abdullah and Ghani fail to agree on a new government. | Celebratory gunfire is common in Afghanistan, but the sight of heavily armed men patrolling Kabul streets is likely to exacerbate concerns about armed conflict if Abdullah and Ghani fail to agree on a new government. |
| Abdullah was one of Massoud’s top aides. Abdullah had urged his followers on Monday to remain peaceful as they marked the anniversary of Massoud’s death, and his campaign reiterated his request Tuesday. | Abdullah was one of Massoud’s top aides. Abdullah had urged his followers on Monday to remain peaceful as they marked the anniversary of Massoud’s death, and his campaign reiterated his request Tuesday. |
| “We are seriously against violence and weapons, and we believe in civil campaigns,” said Fazul Rahman Oria, an Abdullah spokesman. | “We are seriously against violence and weapons, and we believe in civil campaigns,” said Fazul Rahman Oria, an Abdullah spokesman. |
| Still, Kabul was tense for part of the day. At one point, several men could be seen firing weapons near the house of Gen. Abdurrashid Dostum, who is Ghani’s running mate. | Still, Kabul was tense for part of the day. At one point, several men could be seen firing weapons near the house of Gen. Abdurrashid Dostum, who is Ghani’s running mate. |
| During Afghanistan’s civil war in the 1990s, Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek, was at one point a key commander who opposed Massoud’s forces. But he later joined Massoud’s Northern Alliance in the fight against the Taliban. | During Afghanistan’s civil war in the 1990s, Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek, was at one point a key commander who opposed Massoud’s forces. But he later joined Massoud’s Northern Alliance in the fight against the Taliban. |
| Afghan police appeared to do little to challenge the groups of armed men. In a statement Tuesday evening, the Afghan Interior Ministry said one man was killed and five were wounded, including a child, when they were hit by stray bullets in Kabul. | |
| There was also fear of violence in the capital when Abdullah trailed Ghani in preliminary results from the June runoff. Secretary of State John F. Kerry traveled to Kabul in July and again in early August to negotiate a power-sharing agreement between the two campaigns. | There was also fear of violence in the capital when Abdullah trailed Ghani in preliminary results from the June runoff. Secretary of State John F. Kerry traveled to Kabul in July and again in early August to negotiate a power-sharing agreement between the two campaigns. |
| The deal called for an audit of the runoff results as well as the formation of a unity government. Under the agreement, the winner of the recount would become president, while the second-place finisher would fill a newly created chief executive position. | The deal called for an audit of the runoff results as well as the formation of a unity government. Under the agreement, the winner of the recount would become president, while the second-place finisher would fill a newly created chief executive position. |
| But Abdullah pulled his support from the audit two weeks ago, claiming it was not stringent enough to uncover fraud. Abdullah and Ghani have also been unable to agree on who would chair cabinet meetings. | But Abdullah pulled his support from the audit two weeks ago, claiming it was not stringent enough to uncover fraud. Abdullah and Ghani have also been unable to agree on who would chair cabinet meetings. |
| The deadlock has kept Karzai in office at least two months longer than had been initially planned. | The deadlock has kept Karzai in office at least two months longer than had been initially planned. |
| Last month, Karzai insisted that his successor’s inauguration be held on Sept. 2. He then agreed to stay in office until this week to give the Afghan Independent Election Commission and the United Nations more time to complete the recount. | Last month, Karzai insisted that his successor’s inauguration be held on Sept. 2. He then agreed to stay in office until this week to give the Afghan Independent Election Commission and the United Nations more time to complete the recount. |
| Now, the results are not expected to be released for another week. | Now, the results are not expected to be released for another week. |
| And even once the audit is complete, it remains unclear how quickly an inauguration could be held, given the ongoing dispute between Ghani and Abdullah. | And even once the audit is complete, it remains unclear how quickly an inauguration could be held, given the ongoing dispute between Ghani and Abdullah. |
| Sayed Salahuddin contributed to this report. | Sayed Salahuddin contributed to this report. |