Dr. Abdullah Abdullah Comments on Joining Karzai Administration, Makes Demands of Run-off
With not much time until the November 07 run-off, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has already begun speaking about the logistics of the run-off and chances of him once again serving under a Karzai Administration, should the President be officially re-elected in a legitimate, fair, and transparent election:
He won’t join Karzai’s government if the incumbent wins another term, but instead will remain in opposition.
Abdullah Abdullah, who served as foreign minister in Karzai’s government until quitting nearly four years ago, said he would congratulate Karzai if he “is elected through a transparent and credible process.”
“My trust in becoming a candidate was not to be part of the same government, part of the same deteriorating situation,” told CNN’s John King in an interview taped for broadcast on Sunday’s “State of the Union.”
“Mine was for a change in this country. Mine was for bringing hopes for the people of this country, and making the people of Afghanistan true participants in their politics, in the governance, in the developmental process, in the security situation and as a whole.”
Abdullah and others charged massive fraud in the August 20 vote.
Karzai challenger prefers opposition to coalition [CNN]
Run-Off Demands:
Mr Abdullah now says he will pull out of the 7 November vote unless poll officials are dismissed.
Mr Abdullah’s spokesman said the officials from the government-appointed Independent Election Commission (IEC) should be replaced by people who both Mr Abdullah and President Karzai found acceptable. Mr Abdullah, a former foreign minister, has previously accused the commission of not being impartial.Meanwhile, the US special envoy to Afghanistan has said it is reasonable to hope for fewer irregularities in the presidential run-off poll than in the August election.
At a state department briefing in Washington, Richard Holbrooke told reporters: “It is reasonable to hope that there will be less irregularities this time for several reasons.
“One, there are only two candidates. Two, there is the experience factor. Three, the international community… are going to go all out to help make this a success.”
Kai Eide, chief of the UN mission in the country, admits that fraud cannot be eliminated but also says he expects its level to be reduced.
Afghan run-off campaigning begins [BBC]