国际英语新闻:Afghan presidential runners promise economic, political stability

KABUL, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Three candidates running to secure Afghanistan's top slot in the April presidential elections promised in a televised debate Saturday evening to revive the country's impoverished economy and bring about stability.

Organized by a private television channel, TV1, all the trio hosted in the studio described reviving the economy and political stability as their prime objectives.

Former foreign minister and top challenger to President Hamid Karzai in 2009 presidential elections Abdullah Abdullah, former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Abdul Qayum Karzai, the elder brother of serving President Karzai, attended the debate.

They all vowed to better the living conditions of war-weary Afghans by improving the economy and bringing about durable peace and stability in the country, while strengthening Afghanistan's relations with the neighboring states and the international community if they win the coming presidential polls slated for April 5 this year.

Eleven politicians are contesting to succeed incumbent President Karzai and lead the country for the next five years.

This is the second television debate of presidential candidates since the election campaign was launched on Feb. 2. The previous one was organized by another private television channel, Tolo, a couple of nights ago.