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Concern at Karzai poll power grab Concern at Karzai poll power grab
(20 minutes later)
Western diplomats have expressed deep concern at a decree from Afghan President Hamid Karzai giving him total control over a key election body.Western diplomats have expressed deep concern at a decree from Afghan President Hamid Karzai giving him total control over a key election body.
The move gives him the power to appoint all five members of Afghanistan's Electoral Complaints Commission.The move gives him the power to appoint all five members of Afghanistan's Electoral Complaints Commission.
The body helped expose massive fraud in last year's presidential election and nearly forced Mr Karzai into a runoff. The body helped expose massive fraud in last year's presidential poll, forcing Mr Karzai into a second vote.
The decree comes as Nato-led forces fight a major operation against the Taliban in central Helmand province.The decree comes as Nato-led forces fight a major operation against the Taliban in central Helmand province.
The commission will play a vital role in this year's parliamentary poll.
The BBC has been told the outgoing UN representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, had struck a private deal that two of the five commission members would be foreigners.The BBC has been told the outgoing UN representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, had struck a private deal that two of the five commission members would be foreigners.
Under that agreement, one of the appointees was expected to have veto power.Under that agreement, one of the appointees was expected to have veto power.
But that deal does not feature in the new decree. But the deal does not feature in the new decree.
The commission will play a vital role in this year's parliamentary poll. Election costs
The previous commission had three foreign experts appointed by the United Nations.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Kabul says Western diplomats are shocked by the decree.
One official questioned if the international community would be willing to underwrite the costs of another election, which could be deeply flawed.
But another was less gloomy, telling our correspondent the decree was not necessarily a total disaster, and that the devil would be in the detail.
Mr Karzai was eventually declared the winner of last August's presidential election after a months-long fraud investigation which paralysed the country and delayed Nato members sending more troops to combat the insurgency.