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| Afghanistan |
| Mohaqiq, Dostum to support Karzai in Afghan poll |
| 2009-06-01 |
| Two key Afghan opposition groups have pledged to back incumbent Hamid Karzai in August's presidential election, top officials from both parties said on Sunday, further boosting his chance of victory. The groups are headed by men from the Hazara and Uzbek ethnic minorities, who have styled themselves leaders of their people, and claim they can sway a significant number of voters in a country where ethnic allegiances are a powerful force. Haji Muhammad Mohaqiq, a Hazara who leads the Hezb-i-Wahdat party, told Reuters he had confirmed his support for Karzai at a meeting on Saturday, after weeks of negotiations about power sharing under a future government. A senior leader of Junbish-i-Melli party, founded by ethnic Uzbek General Abdul Rashid Dostum, also committed his party to backing the government. "Yesterday, we had a tripartite meeting (with Karzai and Mohaqiq) and we reached the conclusion that we would support him in the elections," Sayed Noorullah, the head of Junbish-i- Mellei's central council, told Reuters. As Karzai cements his lead in the presidential race, it may help him win over opponents who if they cannot unseat him, would like a share of government power. The fresh backing for Karzai will be a major blow to the main opposition bloc, the National Front, which once counted both parties as important members. |
| Posted by:Fred |