Karzai’s Ex-Allies Vie for Afghan Presidency

Source: NYT

By CARLOTTA GALL and ABDUL WAHEED WAFA

KABUL, Afghanistan — Forty-four candidates submitted nominations to run for president before the close of registration on Friday, a field full of people who served under President Hamid Karzai but have since broken with him, often over his management style.

The large crowd of presidential hopefuls included two women, several former ministers, a mix of former Communists and people who fought against them in the jihad, a former boy genius and Mr. Karzai, said the spokesman for the election commission, Noor Muhammad Noor.

Mr. Karzai, despite his falling popularity, is widely recognized as the leading candidate. After him, the most serious contender is Dr. Abdullah, 51, an eye specialist who uses only one name and who served as foreign minister under Mr. Karzai for five years. He is the candidate for the main opposition movement, the United Front, which commands wide support among the northern tribes.

The broad field showed Afghanistan’s progress from its first presidential elections five years ago, which were dominated by faction leaders of the mujahedeen, the armed groups that once helped push out the Soviet occupation.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/world/asia/09kabul.html?_r=1&ref=asia