One of Afghanistan's most notorious militia leaders threw his support behind President Hamid Karzai at a chaotic rally Monday, the final day of campaigning for this week's election, Reuters reported.
With the outcome of Thursday's ballot hanging on the threat of Taliban-led violence and the clout of old militia chiefs, Karzai's main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, staged an equally frenetic rally in the capital, Kabul.
In the north, thousands gave a rapturous welcome to General Abdul Rashid Dostum, the former Uzbek militia chief who flew back to Afghanistan Sunday from exile in Turkey.
"We need to go with Hamid Karzai into the future," Dostum told cheering supporters in Shiberghan, his dusty home city.
Polls have shown Karzai with about 45 percent of the vote, a clear lead but not enough to win an outright majority and avoid a run-off against Abdullah, Karzai's former foreign minister who has strong support among ethnic Tajiks in the north.
Dostum's backing could deliver enough support for Karzai to win the election in a single round, despite grave fears expressed by the United States and the United Nations over Dostum's possible return to a position in government.
"We must not let it go to a second round -- back Hamid Karzai," the heavily protected Dostum said before throwing red velvet-covered copies of his political manifesto to the crowd.
"There will be a day, God willing, when I can help all of the people of Afghanistan again," he said.
Scuffles broke out backstage before Dostum arrived. A choir led by a 15-year-old boy sang "our king is coming."
Abdullah staged an equally chaotic rally in Kabul's National Olympic Stadium, once used by the Taliban as an execution ground, his security guards beating back enthusiastic supporters with rifle butts.
Some supporters stampeded through gates and shattered glass doors to get closer to Abdullah, an urbane eye doctor, others clung precariously to a light tower. A makeshift platform used by television journalists collapsed in the crush, lightly injuring several.
Returned Afghan general throws weight behind Karzai
One of Afghanistan's most notorious militia leaders threw his support behind President Hamid Karzai at a chaotic rally Monday, the final day of campaigning for this week's election.
