Opposition's disarray strengthens Karzai

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 3 (UPI) -- Hamid Karzai could be re-elected president of Afghanistan merely because his opposition remains divided and is in disarray, political strategists said.

Not a single candidate has registered to run against Karzai, even though less than a week remains before candidates officially must declare themselves, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

"Karzai is in a very strong position now, but even if he is reelected, Afghanistan will badly need better governance and better leadership," said Haroun Mir, director of the Afghan Center for Research and Policy Studies.

Karzai is an unpopular president and his government is weak, but of the more than 60 people who formally expressed interest in the August election, none have shown any organizational strength, the Post reported.

As a result, "Karzai is growing stronger by the hour," said Ali Jalali, a former interior minister and one of the undecided candidates.

Karzai is to travel to Washington this week for a summit with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and President Barack Obama, whose administration has been increasingly skeptical of Karzai's ability to run his country.