On Monday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s primary challenger said that he is prepared to participate in a runoff vote after a report concluded that Karzai did not win a majority, but he also is willing to consider alternatives.

Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said, “While I am prepared to go for a runoff, at the same time the door is open. There are some practical questions ahead and other realities on the ground.”

Abdullah did not specify whether his openness to alternatives meant he would agree to participate in a power-sharing government or something else.

He said, “I think, before getting too specific…I need to get a mandate from my supporters.”

But his goal has always been “to bring changes to the country” rather than simply to get “one or two posts in the Cabinet,” he added.

Karzai’s camp had approached his camp a few weeks ago, but the contacts were then cut off, Abdullah said. He added, “The past few days, there hasn’t been any contacts or approaches between my camp and Karzai’s people.”

(article and photo source: CNN)