Landslide victory for Karzai says exit poll

Afghan president Hamid Karzai won the first-ever presidential election with the outright majority needed to avoid a second round, and by a wide margin over his nearest competitor, according to an independent exit poll today.

The survey by the US International Republican Institute, a non-profit group that seeks to promote democracy abroad, found Karzai ahead of second place finisher Yunus Qanooni by 43%.