Montreal (AFP) — Toronto’s Mayor Rob Ford, who won global notoriety when he admitted smoking crack during a drunken binge, abandoned his re-election bid on Friday, after he was diagnosed with a stomach tumor.

The 45-year-old anti-tax populist did not appear on the official list of candidates for his office published on Friday, and thus will leave office after the October 27 vote to choose his successor.

AFP Photo/Geoff Robins

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