Kabul, Nov 1 (DPA) Afghan presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah Sunday announced he would boycott a planned runoff election, saying that political conditions could not guarantee a fair process.
The former foreign minister’s decision to pull out leaves President Hamid Karzai as the only candidate, and casts doubt over the legitimacy of his administration, particularly as regards his key ally the US.

“I will not take part in the Nov 7 election,” Abdullah announced, after Karzai rejected his demands to dismiss the head of the electoral commission, and suspend three cabinet ministers whom he accused of participating in fraud from their official positions.

Karzai had been declared outright winner in the Aug 20 election, but an investigation demanded by Western nations found massive vote fraud in the president’s favour.

After about one million ballots were discounted, Karzai’s vote count fell to less than 50 percent plus one of the total needed to avoid a runoff with his nearest rival.

The tainted democratic mandate is now being regarded a setback to Western goals to defeat a growing military insurgency in the country. Support for Karzai’s government and the war is waning in the US, which is the chief provider of funds, troops and military hardware.