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Ex-warlord asks supporters to back Karzai in election

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-18 11:53

KABUL: A former warlord Abdul Rashid Dustam, whose support to any presidential candidate can boost the chance of winning, on Monday asked his supporters to back the incumbent President Hamid Karzai in coming election, a private television channel reported.

A man carrying a large sack passes a wall of campaign posters in Kabul Aug. 17, 2009. [Xinhua]

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"Dustam in a gathering described president Karzai as a suitable man and wished his supporters to back him," Tolo television reported in its main news bulletin.

Meantime, US embassy in Afghanistan, according to the television, has expressed concern over the return of Dustam, who has been accused of violating human rights and massacre, at the threshold of election.

After months of living in Turkey, Dustam returned home Sunday evening and his return took place in the wake of mass demonstration by his fellow Uzbeks couple of days ago in the northern Faryab and Jauzjan provinces.