Karzai hails Nov 7 run-off as boost for Afghan democracy

Afghan President Hamid Karzai hailed a November 7 second round run-off against his main rival Abdullah Abdullah as a step forward for democracy in the troubled country.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday hailed a November 7 second round run-off against his main rival Abdullah Abdullah as a step forward for democracy in the troubled country.

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The new election date was announced after a UN-backed Afghan complaints commission confirmed staggering levels of fraud in the August 20 presidential vote, declaring more than one million ballots suspect.

"This is not the right time to discuss investigations, this is the time to move forward to stability and national unity," Karzai told a news conference.

"I call upon our nation to change this into an opportunity to strengthen our resolve and determination, to move our country forward and to participate in the new round of elections," he added.