Intense power sharing talks preceded Abdullah Abdullah's withdrawal from the Afghan runoff poll that gave President Hamid Karzai another term, officials say.

Although it was said publicly Abdullah pulled out because of a flawed electoral system, representatives of Abdullah and Karzai had talked late into the night, with Abdullah's side pressing for several top government positions, Afghan and Western officials told The Washington Post.

One Karzai official said an Abdullah representative late Saturday presented a document asking for 11 senior posts, including cabinet positions, the Post reported. A Western official told the newspaper the Abdullah camp had earlier sought five positions.

Abdullah's withdrawal from the runoff election was announced Sunday. A spokesman for Abdullah, a former foreign minister, said he could not confirm whether such demands for posts were made, the report said.

The Post said it was not clear if the power-sharing talks were called on Abdullah's orders and were held independently. It also said neither side would say whether their leaders reached a deal or whether the negotiations were what prompted Abdullah's withdrawal.

Abdullah was praised by foreign diplomats for urging his supporters to remain calm throughout the electoral process and now the question is what he will do next, the report said.

Karzai, in first public speech after winning a second term, welcomed his opponents but there was no mention of any post for Abdullah.