November 1, 2009 Challenger drops out of runoff election in Afghanistan Play video

(NECN/APTV) - Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah says he will not participate in next weekend's runoff election in Afghanistan.

Abdullah says his demands for measures to prevent fraud were rejected.

He says a free and fair election is not possible.

President Hamid Karzai's campaign says the election should proceed without Abdullah.

Abdullah's decision effectively hands Karzai a victory.

It also raises doubts about the credibility of the Afghan government and that could complicate the Obama administration's efforts to decide whether to send thousands more troops into Afghanistan.