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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Afghan president on course for historic election victory |
| 2004-10-21 |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai was on course for a clear victory in the country's historic election Thursday with more than half the votes counted. Karzai had almost 60 percent of the vote with an estimated 50.7 percent of total ballots counted, leaving him likely to secure the simple majority needed to avoid a second-round run-off. "It would be almost impossible for Karzai to lose 10 percent of his lead, so a run-off looks very, very unlikely, said a Western election expert familiar with the process. Experts said victory was just days away for the US-backed incumbent who had always been the clear favourite to win the October 9 poll, Afghanistan's first direct presidential election. His closest rival, former education minister Yunus Qanooni, announced late on Wednesday that he would accept the election result despite previously complaining of fraud, smoothing Karzai's way. "I have made sacrifices for the national interests of Afghanistan and I am ready to make another sacrifice," Qanooni told AFP. The ballot was the first ever chance for Afghans to choose their own leader, after enduring Taleban rule, civil war, Soviet occupation, a Communist regime, monarchies and British colonial rule. It was hailed worldwide for the massive voter turnout in the face of threats of violence by bitter Taleban loyalists. Based on election commission estimates, around 8,146,173 million of the 10.5 million registered voters cast ballots, meaning the winner needs 4,073,087 votes to win. Karzai has tallied 2,438,761 votes so far, leaving him 1,634,326 short of victory. Karzai is leading in 20 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces and posted 91 percent of the vote in Kandahar, the spiritual home of the former Taleban regime whose 2001 ousting in a US-led military campaign allowed him to come to power. He also polled 95 percent in the populous eastern province of Nangahar. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 the afghan people have finally spoken for themselves - they have voted for moderation, peace, and the future. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-10-21 9:39:17 AM |