KABUL (PAN): Three more including former attorney general, a businessman and an economic expert on Tuesday jumped into the presidential fray by registering their names with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in the August 20 polls after naming their running mates.

Abdul Jabbar Sabit, the former attorney general of Afghanistan registered himself with the IEC after choosing Abdul Jabar Raufi from Parwan province his first vice president and Mohammad Ali Mohammadi from Badakhshan province his second VP. His election symbol is flower.

In his brief chat with media people, Sabit said he will develop and make the country 'beautiful' like his election symbol.

To a question, he said he has no plan to withdraw from the presidential race and if any such decision comes from his side that would be in the national interest.

"I will not pull out of the presidential race in support of anyone including Karzai," he asserted.

Abdul Jabbar Sabit, 63, was suspended from his job last year when he declared to run for the slot of president in the August 20 presidential polls.

Bismillah Sher, who registered his name as independent candidate is a businessman.

He had selected Mohammad Hasan his first vice president and Dr. Skandar Husaini his second VP.

Spokesman for Bismillah, Sardar Mohammad Waqibeen said that their party's top manifesto was 'national unity' in Afghanistan.

Mehboobullah Koshani of the Azadagan Afghanistan Party, an economic expert, also formally announced his candidacy for the president slot in the presidential election on Tuesday. He had named M. Zaman Athrafi his first vice president while his second vice president is M Sharif Tarakhel.

His spokesman Mujeeb Mahar told Pajhwok Afghan News that Koshani was nominated by their party.

He added bringing peace to Afghanistan was their main objective.

Koshani had worked in Finance and Planning ministries. He was deputy prime minister during Dr Najeeb government.

Registration of the poll candidates started April 25 and will close up May 8.

Of 60 likely contenders, four of them, Abdul Jabar Sabit, Hamid Karzai, Shahnawaz Tani and Akbar Bay had formally nominated themselves.

Myn/ma