Afghan presidential candidate withdraws in Karzai's favor

KABUL, July 24 (Xinhua)-- An Afghan presidential candidate Mohammad Sayed Hashimi withdrew in favor of sitting president and contester for second term Hamid Karzai on Friday.

Addressing a public meeting held here, Syed Hashimi described President Karzai as a qualified person for leading Afghanistan and urged people to mandate him for the second term.

Including Karzai, there are 41 presidential hopeful on the race to secure the country's highest executive post and Syed Hashimi is the first candidate withdrew in favor of sitting president Karzai.

A leading Shiite cleric and leader of his own Islamic faction -Islamic Revolution Movement of Afghanistan, Syed Hashimi, in the gathering where Karzai was present, called on his followers to use their franchise on voting day.

As the date for August 20 presidential election is getting closer, making alliance among some candidates is expected. Days ago, another candidate Baryali withdrew in favor of Karzai's challenger Abdullah Abdullah.

Afghanistan's second presidential election in the post-Taliban country is going to be held amid tight security as Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt it.