Obama says Afghanistan presidential poll successful

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-21 11:41

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Thursday that the Afghan presidential election appeared to have been a success and that the United States will continue to monitor the situation in Afghanistan.

"We had what appears to be a successful election in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban's efforts to disrupt it," the president told Michael Smerconish, who is hosting a talk show for a CBS Radio station located in Philadelphia.

"We have to focus on finishing the job in Afghanistan but it is going to take some time," said the president.

Despite Taliban attacks in 15 provinces, millions of Afghans on Thursday went to 7,000 polling stations across the country to choose their president, who is elected for a five-year tenure and could serve a maximum of two terms.

Full Coverage:  Afghan Presidential Election Related readings:  Afghan polls close; counting begins  Officials: Attacks kill 26 on Afghan election day  Afghan Ambassador in China talks about Taliban and US troops  On election day, Taliban roam freely in Afghan south  Afghan media refuse to censor election reporting

Among the 41 candidates, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and former Financial Minister Ashraf Ghani are main rivals of President Karzai, who won the 2004 presidential election with 55 percent of the vote.

President Hamid Karzai hailed the election a success, praising the Afghan people for braving Taliban "bombs and intimidations." His government said at least 26 people have been killed in the attacks.

Early on Thursday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs praised the Afghanistan people for defying threats of violence and terror to express their thoughts about the next government, stressing that the United States will continue the policy to "disrupt and ultimately defeat al-Qaida and its terrorist allies."

The vote counting could take about three weeks and the final result is expected to be announced on September 17. Candidate who can fix the victory must get more than 50 percent of the vote.

About Election and Candidates

Related Links

• Office of President of Afghanistan
• Official Website of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah
• Independent Election Commission
• Electoral Complaints Commission
• UNDP's ELECT Project