Brown congratulates Karzai on election victory

BRITAIN today welcomed the cancellation of the second round run-off in the disputed Afghan election.

Downing Street said Gordon Brown congratulated President Hamid Karzai on his re-election following the pull-out of his rival Abdullah Abdullah.

"The Government welcomes the decision by the Independent Electoral Commission," a No 10 spokesman said.

"The Prime Minister has spoken to President Karzai to congratulate him on his re-election. They discussed the importance of the president moving quickly to set out a unifying programme for the future of Afghanistan."