KABUL - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday that he would not run for the third term to rule Afghanistan, a statement released by his office said here.

"The Afghan constitution does not allow anyone to run for the third time of Presidency," the statement added.

"I have no resolve to seek election for the third time and do not seek any way to run the country for the third time as president because it is not for the interest of Afghanistan," the statement quoted President Karzai as saying.

According to the statement, the President made these remarks in a meeting with some members of parliament in the Presidential Palace Thursday.

He made this comment amid reports by some lawmakers that Karzai is going to make ways and exploit his authority to run for the third time in the next presidential election.

President Hamid Karzai took power as the first elected president of Afghanistan in December 2004 for a five-year term and his second term as elected president began in November 2009 for another five years.