UN envoy: Widespread fraud in Afghan elections

KABUL, Oct. 11 -- The top UN envoy in Afghanistan KaiEide Sunday said there was "widespread fraud" in the Aug. 20 Afghan election, but he did not give more detail.

Kai Eide made the remarks here in a press conference attended by the ambassadors from U.S., Britain and France.

He said that it is true that significant fraud have been discovered in some polling stations in the south and southeastern areas.

"The extent of that fraud is now being determined," he added.

The sitting President Hamid Karzai has secured about 54 percent of vote in the preliminary result while his main challenger Abdullah Abdullah, who bagged 28 percent of vote, appeared not to accept the outcome unless the transparency is ensured.

Afghanistan election body has finished recounting samples of suspicious ballot boxes on Friday and the final results are expected to be announced on Oct. 15.

Previously, Abdullah has questioned the role of the UN's top diplomat in the country's recently held presidential election and blamed him for concealing the final result.

Eide in Sunday's conference also rejected allegation of not releasing of a report of a panel which was about to be released by UNAMA.

"There is accusation that I refused to share information and that is untrue. And the UN mandate in Afghanistan is to support the process not influence the outcome," he said.

The official added he is committed to support the process as international community backs him to continue for his job in the process.