Afghan president says to stay in office till polls

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he will stay in office until there is an election, rejecting calls for him to step down by May 21 when the constitution says his term ends.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday he will stay in office until there is an election, rejecting calls for him to step down by May 21 when the constitution says his term ends.

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"As long as there is no election, the president will stay in office," Karzai told a news conference in Kabul. Afghanistan has been plunged into political turmoil because the constitution says Karzai's term ends in May but the election commission says polls cannot be held until August 20.