A statement issued from the president's spokesman office said UK prime minister Gordon Brown had a telephonic conversation with President Hamid Karzai last night.

Both the leaders discussed the election process and bilateral relations of the countries, the statement said, adding, UK's role in strengthening the country's security situation and its development also came under discussion.

The fraud-tainted August 20 presidential elections seen widespread terrorist attacks. The initial results gave Karzai the win, but a subsequent review by a UN-backed panel of election monitors threw out nearly one-third of Karzai's votes because of 'clear and convincing evidence of fraud.'

Runner-up Dr. Abdullah Abdullah who pulled out of the run-off race on Sunday and others have charged that massive fraud occurred in the first round of voting on August 20.

The former foreign minister and presidential challenger told a rally of his supporters in Kabul that he would not participate in the runoff as his demands for changes in the election commission were not met.

His decision to withdraw the runoff came as his talks with president Karzai broke down.

US embassy in Kabul on Sunday hailed Abdullah for his statement that he would continue to serve the country and the people.

The embassy also said the US would continue to support Afghan elections.

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