Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Saturday presidential elections would go ahead on August 20 and called for a "national consensus" to decide on who should rule the country after his term ends in May. Karzai, under huge pressure from the United Nations, the United States and other Afghan allies to support the August date set by the election commission, caused a stir last week when he called for an April ballot.
But on Saturday the president told a press conference he accepted the election commissions decision. "I accept the decision of the election commission... and I call on all sides to respect the decision and allow the commission to do their job," he said. Karzais political opponents, including several potential candidates, have called on him to hand over power to an interim administration when his term ends, particularly if he decides to stand for a second term in office.
But on Saturday he dismissed the demand, instead calling for a "national consensus" on who should rule. "I want legitimate government, whether Im a candidate or not. That legitimacy comes from the constitution, or going to the peoples will," he said. "Im ready for both, ready for (implementing) the constitution and ready for a national consensus," he added, without giving further details.
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