Afghanistan

Afghanistan's presidential election officially finally had to go through the second round. Yesterday (20/10),

the Independent Electoral Committee said there was no candidate who earned votes in the top 50 percent. Further round was scheduled for 7 November next.

The results of the presidential election early vote counting that took place August 20 and had called the incumbent Hamid Karzai as the winner by a vote reached 55 percent. 51-year leader was then sure he does not need to fight back in the second round. But, as proved there was cheating, the new official results released, support for Karzai not to 50 percent. Only about 49.67 percent.

Although a winner off a lap, Karzai accepted the results of this official count with legawa. He was willing to once again fight with its main rival, Abdullah Abdullah.

"This is the progress in democracy," said an ally of the United States (U.S.) in a press conference in Kabul yesterday.

On that occasion, he refused to comment about the cheating that had invited the international community comment. "This is not the time to discuss the investigation (election fraud). Now we must promote stability and national security," Karzai is accompanied by excuses UN Special Envoy Kai Eide and U.S. Senator John Kerry.

Karzai then urged the international community to participate in the second round of the presidential election to ensure a safe and peaceful way. The reason this time, no less than 100,000 personnel in the multinational forces under the command of the U.S. is fighting the Taliban in the border and inland areas the Afghanistan-Pakistan. "The people need peace in order to participate to build this country through their choices," he explained.

Last Monday (19/10), the IEC said thousands of ballots that have been entered is invalid. Therefore, the highest electoral body was then ruled Afghanistan officials not to count the evidence of the fraud. "The papers are evidence that the sound is very real and convincing that there has been fraud," explained the IEC in the official statement as reported by CNN.

For a few weeks earlier, the IEC's decision was sounded. At that time, Karzai responded with fury. He has denied cheating. Critics also reap a variety of international community. However, the United States and France quickly urged Karzai and Abdullah to accept the official election results and respond to it wisely. The result, when the official results were announced, Karzai was willing to accept and expressed readiness to fight again