Afghan President Karzai effectively handed a 2nd term

Afghanistan's election commission announced that President Hamid Karzai will be awarded a second term. It also canceled Saturday's presidential runoff. The decision comes the same day UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon made a surprise visit to the country.

Sunday, Karzai's only challenger Abdullah Abdullah announces he will no longer take part in the race, claiming the run-off would not be free or fair.

A day later, the Independent Election Commission announces its decision according to its mandate under Afghan law.

Azizullan Lodin, Independent Election Committee, said, "We declare Mr. Hamid Karzai, who received the majority of votes in the first round and is the only candidate in the second round of elections for Afghanistan in 2009, has been elected president of the country."

To many people, especially Abdullah's supporters, Karzai's victory is far from convincing. But the ordeal is over.

The election organizers can now breath a huge sigh of relief. They were scrambling to put a run-off together before Afghanistan's harsh winter which may prevent voters from casting ballots.