Loan Adviser

UN says elections in Afghanistan credible and legitimate

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The UN General Assembly said Monday that the Afghan presidential elections were credible and consistent, despite widespread fraud allegations that led critics to question the legitimacy of the vote.

A resolution adopted unanimously, the 192-nation assembly also called on the Government's re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai to press ahead with strengthening the implementation of law and democratic processes, combating corruption (and) the acceleration of justice sector reform.

reported fraud during elections and the rejection of its biggest rival to compete in a runoff damaged the credibility of Karzai at the start of his second term. However, the assembly of the UN had no doubt about the mandate of Karzai or his right to continue leading the country.

The resolution welcomed the efforts of relevant institutions to respond to irregularities identified by the electoral institutions in Afghanistan and to secure a legitimate and credible process according to the Afghan election law and under the Afghan constitution.

Afghan Ambassador to the UN Zahir Tanin, said his nation and government were profoundly grateful for the vote of confidence from the assembly. Tanin acknowledged there were problems with voting, but added that no election is perfect.

There is even less perfect in an emerging democracy threatened by conflicts, he told the assembly.

The complaints and irregularities were discovered and resolved in a systematic and meticulously fair, the envoy said Afghan ..

Peter Galbraith, the former second man UN mission to Afghanistan Kai Eide commanding accused his former boss to do a blind eye to the scale of fraud in the election on Aug. 20.

In September, Secretary general of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, Galbraith dismissed for arguing with Eide on the Afghan elections.

(Editing by Jon Boyle Spanish)