Afghan presidential poll to be held in 2014: Karzai

The Afghan presidential election will be held in 2014 in accordance with the country’s constitution, President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday, denying reports that foreign troops’ withdrawal and insecurity will suspend the poll. ‘I am convinced and the government as well as the people of Afghanistan are firmly determined to hold the presidential election in 2014 in accordance with the constitution and that no motives, no reasons, no security incidents and no foreign misinformation will put back the arrangements to hold the election on time,’ Karzai told reporters at a press conference in his fortified palace. President Karzai took over as the first elected president of Afghanistan in December 2004.