Afghanistan

Karzai accepts August election date

Article published on the 2009-03-07 Latest update 2009-03-07 13:58 TU

Karzai at today's press conference
(Photo: Reuters)

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai announced Saturday that he has accepted the Election Commission's ruling that the country's presidential election will take place on 20 August. Karzai earlier issued a decree that the vote would take place on 20 April but the commission argued that security could not be guaranteed then.

Karzai, who was enthusiastically backed by former US President George Bush, but now is reported to be out of favour with US President Barack Obama's adminstration, objected to the August date. He argued that the constitution states that the vote must be held between 30 and 60 days after his five-year term runs out on 21 May.

"The American approach to Afghanistan, we can say that it is one of the important factors, [...] it was basically the last American administration’s support that helped him gain power," says Dr Babar Shah, from Peshawar University.

"In January there was suddenly a disagreement and the lower house passed a resolution calling upon me, as protector of the constitution, to implement the constitution," Karzai said on Saturday.

Happy days - Karzai with former US President George Bush
(Photo: AFP)

But, after coming under pressure from the US, the UN and other foreign governments, he says he has changed his mind.

"Now some of our friends say the first decision is acceptable [...] I respect and have accepted the decision of the electoral commission," he told the press.

The commission argued that it would be impossible to guarantee security in April. With Taliban insurgency rife, the top general with the Nato force in the country, US General John Craddock, has asked for about 4,000 extra troops to help provide security.

"The security issue will continue to be a very important concern during the course of elections," Shah told RFI.

The US is to send 17,000 extra troops but they will not all be in place until July.

Karzai's opponents have called for an interim government but Karzai has rejected the idea. There have been some calls for him to call a state of emergency when his mandate expires.

"If Karzai really steps down, the first question would be who would head an interim administration? Will that be unanimously be accepted by all contenders who are looking towards the future of Afghanistan," says Shah.

"It is an unprecedented situation in Afghanistan […] reconstruction activity in the country is still to gain its full momentum. We can say that the situation is passing through a transition that still has to take some concrete shape," added Shah.

A suicide bomber killed a police officer and a civilian in the south-western Nimroz province on Saturday.