U.N. Envoy: Accusations of Pro-Karzai Bias Are Untrue

By Joshua Partlow
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, October 11, 2009 12:25 PM

KABUL, Oct. 11 -- The embattled head of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan on Sunday defended himself against allegations from his former American deputy that he chose to ignore evidence of fraud in last month's disputed elections and acted in a biased manner towards President Hamid Karzai.

U.N. special envoy Kai Eide described the Aug. 20 election in Afghanistan as "marred by so many problems, not least, as you know, widespread fraud." But he denied that he or the United Nations mission acted inappropriately during the process.

"What I have done is to implement my mandate with the full support of the international community," he said.

At a news conference flanked by western ambassadors, Eide responded to the allegations by his former deputy Peter W. Galbraith that he downplayed fraud and favored Karzai, saying that they were "personal attacks against me and my integrity" and that "it has not been dignified, it has not been fair, it has not been true." ]

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