Afghan election officials fired ahead of run-off

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-22 09:43

Chairman of the U.N.-backed Electoral Complaints Commission Grant Kippen talks during an interview with Reuters in Kabul October 19, 2009. [Agencies]

KABUL: More than half the top Afghan district election officials are being replaced to try to prevent more fraud and produce a credible result in next month's presidential run-off vote, UN officials said on Wednesday.

The move followed an announcement by President Hamid Karzai that he would accept a November 7 run-off, clearing one obstacle for US President Barack Obama as he considers whether to send more troops to Afghanistan to fight a resurgent Taliban.

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In Washington, Obama said he could reach a decision on his new Afghanistan strategy before the run-off, although he said it might not immediately be announced.

Karzai agreed on Tuesday to accept the run-off against Abdullah after days of diplomatic wrangling and a UN-led fraud inquiry that tossed out enough Karzai votes to trigger a second round.

Concerns about a repeat of the widespread fraud that tainted the first round on August 20 cast a long shadow as hasty preparations for the new poll began.

Aleem Siddique, a spokesman for the UN mission in Afghanistan, said 200 of 380 district election chiefs from the government-appointed Independent Election Commission were being replaced in places where fraud or vote-fixing was determined.

"More than half of the district field coordinators are being replaced to prevent any attempted fraud or because there have been complaints made against them by candidates and observers," said Siddique.

Logistical Nightmare

Afghanistan now faces a logistical nightmare, with just over two weeks to prepare for a second round of voting as the harsh winter, which makes much of the mountainous country inaccessible, closes in.

Security is also a big worry, with the Taliban at its strongest in the eight-year war. While not able to disrupt the first vote completely, Taliban attacks kept many voters away.

The prospect of another ballot has disillusioned voters after many stayed at home during the first round, intimidated by insurgent violence and threats.

"I voted last time with great risk and fear, but I am not going to do that again," said Ghamai, an Afghan from the southern Taliban stronghold of Kandahar.

The Independent Election Commission, Afghanistan's main election authority, vowed to prosecute anyone suspected of having committed fraud during the first round.

"If the IEC staff were involved in fraud ... we will replace them or hand them over to justice in order to hold a more transparent election, including government officials," said commission chief Azizullah Ludin.

Abdullah said his campaign team was mapping out specific conditions and recommendations to avoid fraud.

Siddique said NATO and the IEC would discuss preparations for the second round, adding the distribution of ballot materials would start on Thursday.