Zalmai Rassoul Announces Support for Leading Afghan Candidate Abdullah
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Afghan presidential candidate Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, who secured third position in the race after votes counting, announced his support for the leading candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Sunday.
"Hereby I am announcing the support of Dr. Zalami Rassoul and his team to the leading presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and his team," Jawed Faisal, a close aide to Zalmai Rassoul announced in a meeting attended by hundreds of people in a local hotel.
Later at the meeting, Zalmai Rassoul described Abdullah as his friend, saying his decision to support Abdullah enjoys the support of his team and his supporters, Xinhua reported.
A 10-article resolution was also readout at the meeting wherein both sides announced their commitments to work for peace, stability and economic development of the country.
Previously, another presidential candidate Gul Agha Shirzai had joined Abdullah's team to support his team if the elections go to second round.
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah secured 44.9 percent, Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai won 31.5 percent and Zalmai Rassoul bagged 11.5 percent of some 7 million votes in the preliminary results announced by the Election Commission on April 26, paving the way for the runoff between front-runners Abdullah and Ghani Ahmadzai.
In his speech at the meeting on Sunday, Dr. Abdullah, besides expressing confidence in wining the presidential elections, appreciated his friend Rassoul for joining his team, saying they would spare no efforts to take the country towards viable peace, security and sustainable economic development after taking over power from the serving government.