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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 (ECC).
The body helped expose massive fraud in last year's presidential poll, forcing Mr Karzai into a second vote.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 the deal does not feature in the new decree.But the deal does not feature in the new decree.
Election costs Devil in detail
The previous commission had three foreign experts appointed by the United Nations. The commission - which previously had three foreign experts appointed by the United Nations - will play a vital role in this year's parliamentary poll.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Kabul says Western diplomats are shocked by the decree.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.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.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.
In a speech to parliament on the first day of its spring session on Saturday, President Karzai listed his priorities, which included reforming the ECC's structure.
He reportedly said that in preparation for this year's parliamentary elections, he would limit "interference from others" by "Afghanising" the poll process.
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.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.
After the ECC discounted hundreds of thousands of votes from the first round because of widespread fraud, he agreed to a run-off.
But days before the vote in early November, it was scrapped, with officials citing a need to avert further political damage to Afghanistan and a rerun of the Taliban violence that marred the first round.
Mr Karzai's only rival, Abdullah Abdullah, had earlier pulled out of the runoff, saying that it would not be free or fair.