[ Afghan Elections 2004-2005 ]

Mohammad Yunos Qanuni said on 11 October that he is backing away from his threats to challenge the veracity of the 9 October presidential election, according to international media. Qanuni and the majority of the other challengers to Afghan Transitional Administration Chairman Hamid Karzai earlier threatened not to recognize the vote, saying the system to prevent multiple voting had failed. "We want to continue the election process," Reuters quoted Qanuni as saying. "We don't want to boycott it despite what we considered the irregularities in the election. We want to see this electoral process through. And we appreciate the honor and the will of the Afghans" (see RFE/RL's special website on the elections at http://www.azadiradio.org/en/specials/elections). (Amin Tarzi)