U.S. admits Karzai "legitimate leader" of Afghanistan

Hamid Karzai is "the legitimate leader" of Afghanistan, said the White House on Monday, adding that U.S. President Barack Obama will call Karzai soon on U.S. further military deployment in Afghanistan.

"President Karzai has been declared the winner of the Afghan election and will head the next government of Afghanistan. So, obviously, he's the legitimate leader of the country," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.

President Obama planned to call Karzai "within the next half-hour," said Gibbs

After top challenger Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from the presidential run-off election set on November 7, the Afghan Independent Election Commission on Monday announced the run-off election has been canceled with Karzai winning the election.

According to Gibbs, the United States would continue conversation with the Karzai-led government over "governance, civil society, and corruption" in order to ensure that "we have a credible partner in our efforts to help secure the country."

Source: Xinhua