Another presidential runner in Afghan presidential race Abdul Rahim Wardak quitted the contest on Sunday leaving nine politicians to contest for assuming the country's top slot in the next month presidential polls.

General Abdul Rahim Wardak who had served as defense minister and adviser to president on military affairs before joining the presidential contest, announced his relinquishing from the race, without joining any candidates.

"I am announcing my withdrawal from the presidential race and the presidential elections held next month," Wardak said at a press conference here.

Without giving any reason for quitting the contest, Wardak said that he is thankful to anyone who had supported him in the past one month campaign.

However, he hoped the coming elections will be a transparent and fair one.

"I want the country to have a fair and transparent election," the former defense minister went on to say.

Rahim Wardak is the second presidential candidate quitting the April presidential contest in Afghanistan.

Previously, President Hamid Karzai's elder brother Abdul Qayum Karzai gave up the presidential contest and threw his weight behind the former foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul.

The elder Karzai withdrew his candidacy and joined hand with former foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul on March 6, calling upon his supporters mostly in the Pashutun dominated southern provinces to cast their votes in Rassoul's favor to become the next president of Afghanistan.

As the date for April 5 presidential elections is getting closer, it is expected that more presidential runners will either join hands with powerful candidates or give up the contest in the coming days to reduce the list of the contenders. Endi

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