Karzai to run for Afghan president

Afghan President Hamid Karzai registered his candidacy yesterday for the October presidential election, as a new, potentially strong rival emerged to try and upset the overwhelming favourite and his US backers.

"I went to the Election Commission office... and presented them my form for the candidacy," Mr Karzai told reporters at the presidential palace in Kabul.

On the other side of town, Education Minister Yunus Qanuni announced he had submitted his resignation from the cabinet in order to be able to run in the presidential poll on October 9.

Candidates cannot also hold ministerial portfolios. Mr Karzai, from Afghanistan's dominant Pashtun clan, was installed in power after the fall of the Taliban in late 2001 and the United States has made no secret of its support for the fluent English speaker.

Analysts say the US administration wants to press on with the election despite violence blamed on Islamic militants bent on disrupting the poll because it needs a foreign policy success story ahead of George W. Bush's own re-election bid in November.

Over 20 candidates are expected to run for Afghan president, including a woman, but among the most serious challengers will be Mr Qanuni, a key figure in the Northern Alliance of ethnic minority factions that has clashed with Mr Karzai over policies.

Mr Qanuni told a news conference he is backed by Defence Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who led the Northern Alliance during the US-led war against the Taliban and who had been expected to be Mr Karzai's main running mate.

Mr Fahim, also first vice president, has been seen by diplomats in Kabul as an obstacle to Mr Karzai's agenda, including his drive to disarm local factions who belong to the alliance.

Mr Qanuni said he had the support of several cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah, and criticised Mr Karzai's decision to drop Mr Fahim from the first vice presidency, saying it would damage Afghanistan's stability and national unity.

When asked why he had overlooked Mr Fahim, Mr Karzai replied: "I thought we'd give to Afghanistan's young generation a chance of serving... for a powerful Afghanistan."