Afghan incumbent President Hamid Karzai registered his name on Monday with the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC) for the second term and promised to serve the nation.

"Although there were mistakes over the past seven years, I have decided to run for the second time and serve my people," Karzai told newsmen in a brief chat after offering his candidacy and registering his name.

Describing objectives as serving the nation, Karzai added that "my aim is to bring changes to the living standard of the people as well as to bring peace and stability. So I hope people to vote for me."

The serving President along with Mohammad Qasim Fahim and the present second Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili went to the IEC office and registered his name amid tight security.

Fahim, who served as vice president and Defense Ministry in the past, has been registered as first vice president while Khalili would remain in office if Karzai wins the second presidential polls in the post-Taliban country.

Since the inception of registration process of presidential candidates on April 25, Karzai is the third aspirant who registered his name to compete the race set for August 20 this year.

The two others Shah Nawaz Tanai, a former Defense Minister and Akbar Bai, an ethnic leader of Uzbek, have registered their names for the race to assume the country's top slot.

The registration process would be closed down on May 8.

(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2009)