The head of the UN.mission in Afghanistan acknowledged Sunday that there was “widespread fraud” in the August presidential election but refused to give specifics or lay blame to avoid influencing the ongoing recount. Kai Eide appeared before reporters to respond to allegations by his former deputy, Peter Galbraith, that the Norwegian diplomat had sought to cover up evidence of massive fraud allegedly committed on behalf of President Hamid Karzai during the Aug. 20 balloting. Galbraith, the top-ranking American in the UN mission, was fired Sept. 30 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after the widely publicized dispute over how to deal with the fraud charges, which threaten to discredit both the Afghan government and the international strategy for combating the Taliban insurgency. During a news conference, Eide said he could “only say that there was widespread fraud” and that “any specific figures would be speculative” until the recount is complete. Eide said Galbraith's allegations against him “have affected the entire election process.” Eide appeared alongside the ambassadors from the United States, Britain and France in a show of international support for the UN mission and its embattled leader. Last week, Galbraith said he was sticking by his allegations. He accused the United Nations of failing to exercise its responsibility to oversee the Afghan elections, adding that “the flaw that took place in Afghanistan was preventable.” The Obama administration and its international allies had hoped that the election would produce a legitimate partner to help reverse the gains made by the Taliban, which have exploited public discontent over corruption and lack of services. Instead, the election has widened the gap within the coalition of Afghan groups that oppose the Taliban. Preliminary results released last month showed Karzai winning the election without about 54 percent of the vote. But a recount, expected to be completed this month, would force a runoff with second-place finished Abdullah Abdullah if Karzai's totals fall below 50 percent. Once the election results become clear, President Barack Obama is expected to complete a review of Afghan strategy and decide whether to accept a recommendation by his top commander here, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, for up to 40,000 more troops.
