Karzai agrees to election run-off

AFGHANISTAN: President Hamid Karzai agreed to face a second round of voting in Afghanistan’s disputed election on Tuesday after a UN-led fraud inquiry tossed out enough of his votes to trigger a run-off.

Karzai’s decision immediately eased tensions with the West and removed one stumbling block for U.S. President Barack Obama as he weighs whether to send send more troops to Afghanistan to fight a resurgent Taliban.

Obama called Karzai to congratulate him for accepting the run-off and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed Karzai’s decision.

“It is now vital that all elements of Afghan society continue to come together to advance democracy, peace and justice,” Obama said in a statement.

“We look forward to a second round of voting, and the completion of the process to choose the president of Afghanistan.”

Obama administration officials have stressed that for Washington to succeed in Afghanistan it is essential that there be a legitimate and credible government in Kabul.

Obama was to meet with his war council this week and next on the request by his top military commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, for 40,000 or more reinforcements. The Nov. 7 run-off election will pit Karzai once again against his main election rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah. KABUL, Wednesday, Reuters