Back to Headlines Print Version Buzz Up Stumble it Tweet it Facebook LinkedIn

Taliban Ridicules Karzai, Says West Made Afghan Vote Decision

KABUL (AFP)--The Taliban on Tuesday ridiculed Hamid Karzai as a "puppet president" after he was handed another five-year term in office, accusing Western powers of deciding to cancel Afghanistan's run-off election.

"The cancellation of the second round of the election showed that decisions on Afghanistan are made in Washington and London, while the announcements are made in Kabul," a Taliban statement said.

"What is astonishing is two weeks ago they were arguing that the puppet president Hamid Karzai was involved in electoral fraud...but now he is elected as president based on those same fraudulent votes, Washington and London immediately send their congratulations."

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  11-03-090340ET
  Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.