About five major candidates

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-19 11:10

Hamid Karzai

After the US-led invasion in 2001, Karzai served as president of the transitional government and became Afghanistan's first popularly elected president in 2004, and is widely considered the favorite to win this year.

Karzai has long faced reports of deep-seated corruption and patronage within his administration, as well as allegations that he has misused billions of dollars in foreign aid.

As a Pashtun, Karzai enjoys the support of an ethnic group that composes just over half of the country's population. Although generally Sunni-Muslim, Pashtuns are separated into tribal and sub-tribal groups, divisions Karzai has been able to overcome by allegedly making deals with tribal leaders to ensure the backing of the entire Pashtun population.

Abdullah Abdullah

Abdullah is largely considered to pose the biggest threat to Karzai because of his name recognition.

In the 1980's, Abdullah was an adviser to the Mujahadin leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated in 2001 and is now considered a national hero.

During Taliban rule, Abdullah became deputy foreign minister of the Northern Alliance.

After the fall of the Taliban, Karzai named Abdullah minister of foreign affairs in 2002, a post he held until 2006 when the cabinet was reshuffled.

Part of the second largest ethnic group in the country, the Tajiks, Abdullah has also tried to reach out to other ethnic groups by wearing traditional clothing common among Tajiks, as well as garments favored by Pashtuns.

Abdullah has proposed replacing the current system of government with a parliamentary system.

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About Election and Candidates

Related Links

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