Karzai’s Main Opponent Decides Not to Boycott Decision on Vote

KABUL, Afghanistan – President Karzai’s main challenger yesterday backed off a boycott of Afghanistan’s landmark election over allegations of fraud, saying he would accept the formation of an independent commission to look into any irregularities in the vote.Chancellor Schroeder, the first foreign leader to visit since Saturday’s election, all but declared Mr. Karzai the winner before a single ballot was counted.The announcement by ethnic Tajik candidate Yunus Qanooni that he would accept the formation of the election commission followed similar statements Sunday by Massooda Jalal, the only female presidential hopeful, and ethnic Hazar candidate Mohammed Mohaqeq.“I don’t want to be against the election and I appreciate the good will of the people of Afghanistan,” Mr. Qanooni said. “I want to prove to the people of Afghanistan that the national interest is my highest interest.”He said he made his decision after a meeting with U.N. representative Jean Arnault and the American ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad.Abdul Satar Sirat, a minor Uzbek candidate who rallied the others to support the boycott, also appeared to back down. His spokesman, Ramatullah Jalili, also said Mr. Sirat would respect the decision of an independent electoral commission.The announcements were a huge victory for election organizers, who agreed to set up the panel Sunday in hopes it would end the crisis that emerged when all 15 opposition candidates declared the boycott in the middle of Saturday’s voting.Their complaint focused on allegations that the supposedly indelible ink used to mark voters’ thumbs in some polling stations could be rubbed off, allowing some people to vote more than once. The election has been hailed as a success by U.N. officials, President Bush, and other world leaders. International electoral observers have criticized the 15, saying their demand to nullify the vote was unjustified.Mr. Schroeder said the poll “was a great step toward democracy and stability” and predicted Mr. Karzai’s victory. “It is my opinion that he will do it, and in the first round,” the German leader said. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld also praised the elections as an “enormous accomplishment” and voiced hope that the January vote in Iraq will be an equal success.

Karzai’s Main Opponent Decides Not to Boycott Decision on Vote

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