Afghan presidential candidates agree to accept election results

Afghan presidential candidates Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai Friday agreed to accept the election results.

They made the announcement at a joint press conference attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General's Special Envoy to Afghanistan Jan Kubis here, Xinhua reported.

"We have agreed to work together for peace, security, stability and welfare of the people of Afghanistan," Abdullah said at the press conference held in the residence of Jan Kubis here in Kabul.

He also said that a joint communique has been signed by both the electoral teams after talks between the two presidential candidates.

Without going into details, Abdullah added that the communique reflected the common visions of both teams.

"Protecting larger national interests require joint cooperation," Ghani Ahmadzai said at the press conference.

Both teams were committed to work together for the welfare and prosperity of Afghanistan, Ghani Ahmadzai added.

The results of the presidential runoff held June 14 will be announced by the end of August.

Under the agreement reached by the two teams, there is no loser and both the candidates would form a national unity government wherein the candidate who garners more votes will become president and his opponent will become chief executive, a post equivalent to prime minister.

Kerry arrived in Kabul Thursday night and held separate meetings with both the candidates. The top US diplomat said in the press conference that he supported the agreement reached between the two candidates.