Kabul: The main rival for the Afghan
presidency on Saturday said the United Nations' credibility had been
"seriously damaged" by claims of bias levelled at the world
body's special envoy in Kabul.
Abdullah Abdullah said there were "serious
questions" about the role played by Kai Eide, a Norwegian, in
the August 20 election, which has been marred by accusations
of widespread fraud.
This week Eide's sacked former deputy, veteran US
diplomat Peter Galbraith, accused his ex-boss of blocking the
release of details of "very extensive" voter fraud.
Abdullah said Eide's actions gave the impression he
supported Karzai, although the presidential candidate stopped
short of calling for the envoy's resignation or dismissal.
"In normal circumstances accusations, claims and
challenges as such by a senior UN official will call for an
internal UN investigation. That has not happened," Abdullah
told reporters.
"But as far as I am concerned, in my mind I have no
doubt that it has seriously damaged the UN's credibility in
Afghanistan.
"The UN's role has been respected all the time by
most of the parties -- I don't include the Taliban -- in the
country. But at this critical stage, the decision will be
decided either by fraud or by the rule of law. "At this stage,
a biased attitude is not acceptable."
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, October 03, 2009, 20:52