Afghan election commission says runoff canceled

KABUL — The chief officer on Afghanistan’s election commission says Saturday’s presidential runoff has been canceled.

Daoud Ali Najafi gave no details, but a second senior official on the commission also confirmed the second round has been called off.

President Hamid Karzai had already effectively secured a second term when his only challenger, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, dropped out of the race Sunday because he said the vote would not be free or fair. The first round was marred by massive fraud.