In a meeting with the Afghan Ulema Council on Friday, President Hamid Karzai described the tensions that have emerged from the presidential runoff election as normal, and assured that the issues would be resolved.

Addressing the delegation, President Karzai said, there is peace and calmness in the country and everything is smoothly moving forward.

The election process will come to an end through an Afghan-led process or with the support of the United Nations (UN), which is acceptable to both candidates, he added. According to the president's office, he has been in close contact with both of the two men who hope to succeed him. 

President Karzai touched on the demands made by presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah earlier this week. Abdullah recommended that the UN play moderator in the election process due to his lack of faith in the Independent Election Commission's impartiality.

President Karzai said he would accept the UN proposal. 

We have two honorable candidates in the second round of elections, Karzai said. They are respected personalities of Afghanistan and we have close relationships with them.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Abdullah criticized President Karzai and claimed he had failed to remain neutral in the election process. He said Karzai and the election commissions together would be responsible for a political stalemate.