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| Karzai U-turn on polling watchdog | Karzai U-turn on polling watchdog |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Afghan president has agreed to let two foreigners join a panel monitoring upcoming parliamentary elections, reversing an earlier decision. | |
| Last month Mr Karzai signed a decree letting him appoint all five members of the Electoral Complaints Commission. | Last month Mr Karzai signed a decree letting him appoint all five members of the Electoral Complaints Commission. |
| But he came under fire for what some saw as a bid to control a body which stripped nearly a third of his votes in last year's fraud-tainted election. | But he came under fire for what some saw as a bid to control a body which stripped nearly a third of his votes in last year's fraud-tainted election. |
| Mr Karzai was declared the eventual victor after his opponent dropped out. | Mr Karzai was declared the eventual victor after his opponent dropped out. |
| On Saturday, a spokesman said Mr Karzai would now accept some foreigners on the body, because the nation was on a "transitional phase" to democracy. | On Saturday, a spokesman said Mr Karzai would now accept some foreigners on the body, because the nation was on a "transitional phase" to democracy. |
| "The Afghan government has shown its readiness to accept two non-Afghans on the Electoral Complaints Commission and this has been announced to the United Nations," Waheed Omar said. | "The Afghan government has shown its readiness to accept two non-Afghans on the Electoral Complaints Commission and this has been announced to the United Nations," Waheed Omar said. |
| The watchdog helped expose massive fraud in last year's presidential poll, forcing Mr Karzai into a second vote. | The watchdog helped expose massive fraud in last year's presidential poll, forcing Mr Karzai into a second vote. |
| 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. | 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 run-off, saying that it would not be free or fair. | Mr Karzai's only rival, Abdullah Abdullah, had earlier pulled out of the run-off, saying that it would not be free or fair. |
| Correspondents say the commission - which previously had three foreign experts appointed by the United Nations - will play a vital role in this year's parliamentary poll. | Correspondents say the commission - which previously had three foreign experts appointed by the United Nations - will play a vital role in this year's parliamentary poll. |