Mohammed Younus Qanuni, Afghan Presidential candidate and a chief rival to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, delivers a speech about his political platform in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept 21, 2004. Qanuni said that after discussion, fifteen out of eighteen candidates will choose to recommend one representative or cut down the number of candidates to attend the Presidential eletion on Oct. 9, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Xie Xiudong)

Mohammed Younus Qanuni, Afghan Presidential candidate and a chief rival to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, delivers a speech about his political platform in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept 21, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Xie Xiudong)

Mohammed Younus Qanuni, Afghan Presidential candidate and a chief rival to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, delivers a speech about his political platform in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept 21, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Xie Xiudong)

    KABUL, Sept. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai's archrival in the Oct. 9 national presidential election Mohammad Yunus Qanooni on Tuesday called for transparent elections.

    "The upcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan should be fair, transparent and free of interference," he told a group of his supporters and journalists while announcing his electoral platform.

    "We will not accept the result of a rigged and forged election," he added.

    The former Education Minister who enjoys the support of DefenseMinister Mohammad Qasim Fahim, also a military leader of the former Northern Alliance and other resistance figures, Qanooni also repeated the possibility of boycotting balloting.

    "Our threat to boycott the presidential polls still is valid and we will use it as the last option," he stressed.

    Karzai's 17 opponents, gathered under the umbrella of Shurai Humkari Kandidaha or "Council for Cooperation of Candidates" have for several times threatened to boycott the elections if he does not resign before Oct. 9 poll.

    The US-backed Afghan serving president dismissed the demand as unconstitutional saying he would stay in office until the new president is elected.

    Rejecting the possibility of compromise with president Karzai, Qanooni said he would not enter any coalition with the incumbent in the next setup.

    However he confirmed having had talks with Karzai.

    "There were discussions between our friends and Karzai but the people who came to me opposed it," he disclosed.

    Qanooni also said he wanted to continue cooperation with the international community on anti-terrorism, drugs and rebuilding process of the country besides ensuring the rights of women in society.

    Karzai, who earlier said he would welcome Qanooni's return in his side, according to observers would sweep the election in the post-war Afghanistan. Enditem