Qayoum Karzai on Thursday officially ended his bid for the presidency and threw his support behind former Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul.
Qayoum Karzai - brother of current Afghan president Hamid Karzai - said that he took the decision after consultations with the representatives of twenty-eight provinces.
He asked the people for preservation of the achievements of the past 12 years and to vote consciously in upcoming election, due to be held in April.
“Today me and my team consider ourselves an essential part of the alliance and declare our support for Dr Zalmai Rassoul. I request all respected religious scholars, tribal elders, youths, sisters and brothers to support strongly Dr Zalmai Rassoul for preservation of past 12 years, lasting peace and stability, economic development and prevent a repeat of the bitter experience,” Qayoum Karzai said.
Rassoul said consistent efforts only can be effective in leading election.
“In the current situation irregular efforts do not have results and a strong alliance must come to exist and today that alliance is created, from today we are trying for success and today we declare that our alliance will be the winner,” Rassoul said.
Rassoul and Qayoum Karzai hold similar views on national and foreign policy and economic issues. Qayoum Karzai had previously rejected alliances with other candidates.
This is the first coalition formed since the Presidential election campaign officially kicked off.
Source/Fuente: http://www.tolonews.com/elections2014/qayoum-karzai-steps-down-favor-ras...
