Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Note: Following the August 20, 2009, presidential balloting, President Hamid Karzai was initially credited with a first-round victory with 54.6 percent of the vote. However, runner-up Abdullah Abdullah alleged that massive fraud had occurred, and most international observers concluded that the poll had at least been significantly flawed. An audit reduced Karzai’s total to just below 50 percent, and a runoff with Abdullah was scheduled for November 7 (unless the two contenders negotiated a coalition government, as suggested by the United States and other Western countries). However, declaring that fraud was again inevitable, Abdullah withdrew from the runoff, and Karzai was inaugurated for another five-year term on November 19, along with First Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim and Vice President Mohammad Karim ...