Karzai's main rival concedes Afghan vote

Reuters UK ^ | Sun 24 October, 2004 | Staff

[Ginifer]

KABUL (Reuters) - Hamid Karzai's main rival for the Afghan presidency, Yunus Qanuni, has conceded defeat with less than six percent of the vote count remaining.

A spokesman said on Sunday Qanuni would accept Karzai's victory despite irregularities in the October 9 election -- Afghanistan's first ever direct presidential ballot.

"We will accept the result because we do not want to drag the country into crisis," Sayed Hamid Noori told Reuters.

"We accept in the interests of the nation, because we don't want to face another crisis," the spokesman replied, when asked if Qanuni was conceding.

With 94.6 percent of the ballot counted, Karzai has 55.3 percent compared to Qanuni's 16.2 percent. Karzai needed 51 percent to avoid a run-off against the second placed finisher.

[No Blue States]

Congrats to Karzai and Afghanistan!

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[tomnbeverly]

Excellent... Now if America can't see that the President is on the right track with attacking terrorism at its root then they are blind.

Get Kerry on the record quick...

[No Blue States]

Well said, sends a message doesnt it.

[trebb]

"We will accept the result because we do not want to drag the country into crisis," Sayed Hamid Noori told Reuters.

The Dims could take lessons in decency from this guy...

[AmericanChef]

Classy! A fine start.

[Caipirabob]

Paging Al Gore, bring a notepad...

[KwasiOwusu]

"Yunus Qanuni, has conceded defeat with less than six percent of the vote count remaining. AND A spokesman said on Sunday Qanuni would accept Karzai's victory despite irregularities in the October 9 election -- Afghanistan's first ever direct presidential ballot. "We will accept the result because we do not want to drag the country into crisis," Sayed Hamid Noori told Reuters Even Yunus Qanuni, in Afghanistan's very first direct elections in history, has conceded and knows when he is beaten. Question is, will John Kerry accept defeat when he is clobbered, or go down in flames instead. Its entirely up to him. Personally I don't really car what he does. We are prepared for his nonsense either way President Bush IS the sitting President and the Army and the main police union back President Bush by a very solid margin. If Hanoi John thinks he can stage a coup d'etat, I say bring it on!

[Unknown Freeper]

We will accept the result because we do not want to drag the country into crisis," Sayed Hamid Noori told Reuters

Paging Al Gore.

[Unknown Freeper]

rofl GMTA

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

Gee, I can't wait for all the major newspapers across the Nation to have this picture on page A-1 above the fold!

[No Blue States]

Afghanistan President Karzai

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[No Blue States]

It would be a long wait wouldnt it?

And that pic was taken here in the US, California.

[SueRae]

What a fantastic picture, this should be on the front page of every newspaper! My heartfelt congratulations to President Karzai and the Afghani people. I saw Karzai speak in Philly on the 4th of July, when he accepted the Freedom medal. This guy gets it! The spirit of the people of Afghanistan is remarkable and to be commended. My prayers to them all for success, stability and prosperity.

[OXENinFLA]

"We will accept the result because we do not want to drag the country into crisis."

You will never ever ever ever hear these words uttered from John Kerry's lips.>

This is great news for Afghanistan.

[NC Native]

It's ironic and sad that the nation we just pulled out of the crapper has just had an election that will prove to be less contentious than our own. America has brought this on ourself by allowing the left to grow and fester in our midst. I would not be surprised if a significant amount of bloodshed was required to sort things out here.

[Republican Wildcat]

The Democrats could learn something from this.

[lepton]

"We will accept the result because we do not want to drag the country into crisis," Sayed Hamid Noori told Reuters.

Yeah. Gore kept playing games long after there was any chance of him winning.