Ban committed to Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The United Nations remains committed to supporting the government in Afghanistan, said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Former Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah during the weekend announced his decision to abandon a runoff election with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Afghan election officials called for a Nov. 7 runoff between Karzai and Abdullah following an investigation into the Aug. 20 vote. That investigation uncovered widespread fraud, mostly in favor of the incumbent.

Abdullah said he would remain active as a voice of opposition, describing his decision as a difficult one to make.

Ban arrived in Kabul hours after the Abdullah announcement, which prompted Afghan election officials to cancel the runoff and declare Karzai the victor.

"I welcome today's decision by Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission to forgo a runoff vote and to declare Hamid Karzai as the winner of the 2009 presidential elections," the secretary-general said. "I congratulate President Karzai."

Ban called on the new government in Kabul to work quickly to reassure the Afghan people of its legitimacy but remained steadfast in his support for the reconstruction mission there.

"I repeat again the United Nations will continue to stand with the people of Afghanistan in their quest for stability and peace," he said.