November 2, 2009 UN Secretary General makes surprise visit to Afghanistan Play video

(NECN/APTV) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Monday less than a week after five UN workers were killed in Kabul and as Afghanistan's election commission said Saturday's election runoff was canceled.

International pressure has been mounting for a quick resolution to the country's electoral turmoil following the withdrawal of President Hamid Karzai's only challenger.

Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah pulled out of the two-man race on Sunday, effectively handing Karzai a victory.

The two had been in talks about a power-sharing deal, and negotiations may still be going on.

Abdullah chose not to boycott the vote, a conciliatory move that could mean he is still hoping for a deal.

A deadly attack last week on a Kabul guest house where UN election workers were staying has raised questions about whether the UN might scale back in Afghanistan.

Militants stormed the compound before dawn last Wednesday, killing five UN staffers and three Afghans.

Whilst in Kabul Ban said the UN would suspend long-term development work in areas of Pakistan along the Afghan border because of violence there.

However Ban met with both Karzai and Abdullah "to assure them and the Afghan people of the continuing support of the United Nations toward the development of the country," a statement said.

Ban will also meet with UN staff and security officials, the statement said.

Taliban

threats of more violence and the difficulty of organizing and securing the balloting mean that officials are likely looking for a way to end the process without sending people back to the polls this week.