Afghanistan's run-off poll hailed

World leaders have welcomed the acceptance by Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai of the decision to hold a run-off presidential election.

US President Barack Obama described the second round, due on 7 November, as a "constructive" step forward.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also welcomed the "statesmanlike" move.

It came a day after a UN-backed panel said it had clear evidence of fraud in August's first round, lowering Mr Karzai's vote share below 50%.

Mr Karzai - who will compete against his closest rival, Abdullah Abdullah - told a news conference that it was "the time to move forward to stability and national unity".

Mr Abdullah, speaking to the BBC, said the move would "help democracy in this country and strengthen the faith of the people in the democratic process".

'Huge challenge'

Since the disputed first round of polling, there has been intensive Western lobbying of Afghanistan's leaders to resolve the weeks of political paralysis.


ANALYSIS
Martin Patience
Martin Patience, BBC News, Kabul


The Afghan leader thought - and perhaps still believes - that an election victory had been stolen from him because of "foreign meddling."

Now that a run-off has been scheduled, there will be questions raised as to whether it can be successfully organised to be held in two weeks time.

There will also be concerns over the security situation - and there's no guarantee that there won't be a repeat of the fraud, which seriously marred the first round of voting.
Afghan poll - an uncertain future

The White House - debating a request for 40,000 more US troops to be sent to Afghanistan - warned at the weekend that no more soldiers would be deployed until a political resolution was reached.

Mr Obama welcomed news of the run-off, saying: "It is now vital that all elements of Afghan society continue to come together to advance democracy, peace and justice."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commended President Karzai "for the leadership he has displayed".

But he warned of the "huge challenge in conducting a second election".

"We will try to ensure that all Afghan people should be able to express their own will freely without intimidation or threat," he said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: "President Karzai's statement shows to all that he is a statesman who can decide on what is essential, in the higher interests of his country and of the unity of the Afghan people."

'Strengthen our resolve'

Initial election results suggested Mr Karzai, the incumbent, had received 55% of the vote, and ex-Foreign Minister Mr Abdullah 28%.


KARZAI V ABDULLAH
Hamid Karzai:
First popularly elected president of Afghanistan
Opposed Soviet occupation in 1980s
Critics say he has done little to rein in corruption
Abdullah Abdullah:
Tajik-Pashtun, doctor by profession
Senior Northern Alliance leader during Taliban rule
Removed from Karzai's cabinet in 2006
UN chief on Afghan poll
Profile: Hamid Karzai
Profile: Abdullah Abdullah

But on Monday the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) ordered that ballots from 210 polling stations be discounted.

This meant Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below the 50% threshold for outright victory, indicating a second round was needed.

Mr Karzai gave his reaction to the run-off at a news conference on Tuesday, alongside UN envoy Kai Eide and US Senator John Kerry.

"I call upon our nation to change this into an opportunity to strengthen our resolve and determination, to move our country forward and to participate in the new round of elections," he said.

Mr Abdullah told the BBC he had telephoned Mr Karzai to thank him for his remarks.

"He talked about national unity and also he stressed on the need for going to the second round which is exactly what I want to do - so that was a courtesy call, a word of thanks," he said.

Mr Abdullah added: "I know that there are challenges with it; the security situation, and the winter is coming...

Abdullah: 'It was an achievement'

"But I think the fact that the process is moving now forward rather than being stuck, that in itself I consider it a step forward and we have to face the challenges."

The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says there will be no guarantee that any new vote will be free of the fraud that dogged the first round.

But for now the political deadlock appears to have been broken, for a couple of weeks at least, our correspondent says.

Mr Kerry said a second round of voting was a great opportunity and a turning point, praising Mr Karzai for the "genuine leadership in the decision he has made".

Meanwhile, correspondents say it is possible that President Karzai and his challenger may reach an agreement to form a national unity government, meaning that a run off may not be required.