'UN Mission Split Over How To Deal With Afghan Election Fraud', Bloomberg, 16 September 2009

EXCERPT: "The United Nations says its mission in Afghanistan is split over how many votes should be recounted after allegations of widespread fraud in last month's elections, with a top UN official leaving the country over the dispute. Peter Galbraith, the deputy UN special representative in Kabul, left after calling for a wholesale recount of ballots, while Kai Eide, his boss, favors a more limited re-tallying, the London-based Times newspaper reported. 'With any hotly contested election there is bound to be a difference in opinion,' Marie Okabe, deputy spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York yesterday. The mission 'remains committed to supporting a credible election outcome that is accepted by voters.' Allegations that supporters of President Hamid Karzai stuffed ballots and committed voting fraud have marred the election, delaying a result that the Obama administration has counted on to strengthen the political credibility of the government in Kabul. Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said yesterday that the Afghan government's legitimacy is a 'huge, huge issue.' The U.S. needs a legitimate and popularly mandated partner for a stepped-up fight against the Taliban, he said."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'US official clashes with UN over Afghan poll fraud', NPR, 16 September 2009
'', AFP, 16 September 2009
'UN says Afghan envoys differ in style, not substance', Reuters, 15 September 2009
'', China View, 15 September 2009

Related posts:
'Tribal leaders call for Karzai to quit', 1 September 2009
'Election fraud allegations mount, Karzai extends lead', 26 August 2009
'Karzai, Abdullah both claim lead in election', 21 August 2009
'Observers see pattern of fraud before elections', 13 August 2009