June 14, 2009

Afghan President Hamid Karzai telephoned his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday to congratulate him on his victory in disputed presidential elections, a statement from his office said.

While world powers and key backers of the Kabul administration like Britain and the United States have reacted cautiously, Karzai labelled Ahmadinejad's win "a suitable selection".

"President Hamid Karzai congratulated Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the phone on his re-election as the president of Iran," the statement said.

"President Karzai during the phone conversation said that the large turnout in the election signalled the interest of Iranians in defining their destiny."

An earlier statement quoting Karzai said: "The selection of Dr Ahmadinejad with a definitive majority of the Iranian people's vote is a suitable selection for the continuous progress and welfare of the Iranian nation."

Ahmadinejad was on Saturday declared the winner by a landslide in Iran's hotly-disputed presidential vote.

The result has led to riots by supporters of the main challenger, moderate ex-premier Mir Hossein Mousavi, and clashes with baton-wielding police in unrest not seen since student riots a decade ago.

The European Union expressed "concerned about alleged irregularities during the election process and post-election violence".

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed hope that the result would reflect the will of voters.

Other leading nations including Moscow, Israel, and Arabic countries reacted with caution, but Afghanistan is keen to maintain good relations with its immediate neighbour.

"During the first term in office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, relations between the two Muslim nations of Afghanistan and Iran expanded in line with the bilateral interests of both countries," said the statement.

"Hamid Karzai expressed confidence that bilateral relations in the new term in office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the President of Islamic Republic of Iran will expand even further," it said, citing Karzai.

Iran has close ethnic and religious ties with Afghanistan but the Islamic republic has been accused by Afghan and international military commanders of secretly supporting a rising Taliban insurgency against foreign forces here.