Canada congratulates on Karzai's reelection

KABUL, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday welcomed the decision of Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) to announce the sitting President Hamid Karzai as the winner of the election and congratulated him, a statement of Canadian embassy released here said.

"Canada recognizes the appropriate decision made by IEC to forgo a second round of voting in the 2009 presidential election, "the statement quoted Prime Minister Harper as saying.

"Throughout the recent election in Afghanistan, Canada urged all parties to abide by the Afghan Constitution. President Hamid Karzai's willingness to participate in a second ballot vote demonstrated this commitment to the democratic process. We congratulate President Karzai victory and look forward to him quickly forming a national government that will work for the benefit of all Afghans," it said.

IEC on Monday announced Karzai as the winner of the presidential polls just day after his nearest rival Abdullah Abdullah quitted the race in protest over what he described "biased stance of IEC" towards the sitting president Karzai.

"Looking ahead, we urge the new government of Afghanistan to place an emphasis on security and good governance," the statement stressed.

Earlier U.S. President Barack Obama, Pakistani Prime Minister Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have congratulated Karzai on his reelection.