Abdullah leaves field clear for Karzai in Afghan run-off

Afghanistan's run-off election will go ahead with President Hamid Karzai as the only candidate after his rival Abdullah Abdullah withdrew yesterday, the country's top chief electoral officer said. "Based on election laws and based on the constitution, there should be a second round. The constitution is clear," said Daoud Ali Najafi, chief electoral officer of the government-appointed Independent Election Commission.

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