Karzai named Afghan leader as runoff vote scrapped

AFGHANISTAN’S election commission proclaimed President Hamid Karzai the victor of the country’s tumultuous ballot yesterday, cancelling a planned runoff and ending a political crisis two-and-a-half months after a fraud-marred first round.

The Obama administration — which has been waiting for a government deemed legitimate to emerge in Kabul before announcing whether to deploy tens of thousands more troops — quickly commended the ruling.

“We congratulate President Karzai on his victory in this historic election and look forward to working with him” to support reform and improve security, the US Embassy said in a statement. Britain and the UN also issued statements of congratulations.