Afghan governor decides not to run against Karzai -- The Associated Press

KABUL -- An influential Afghan governor who had signaled his intention to run for president said Saturday he will not, leaving President Hamid Karzai in an increasingly strong position to win re-election.

Pushtoon said Friday that Afghanistan's top vice president _ Ahmad Zia Masood _ was breaking away from Karzai to join Sherzai on a competing ticket, although this was not confirmed by Masood's spokesman.

But after a private meeting with Karzai on Friday, Sherzai told reporters Saturday he would not run. He said, however, that he was resigning as Karzai's governor of eastern Nangarhar province.
Afghan governor decides not to run against Karzai

شیرزی نامزد انتخابات ریاست جمهوی افغانستان نخواهد بود
د ګل اغا شېرزي استعفا ونه منل شوه