KABUL (PAN): The United Nations General Assembly on Monday declared that Afghanistan's presidential election was both credible and legitimate.

Adopting a unanimously resolution, the assembly urged the Karzai's government to strengthen the rule of law and democratic processes, anti-corruption efforts and accelerate justice sector reform.

The resolution adopted by the 192-nation assembly also welcomed the efforts of the relevant institutions to address irregularities identified by the electoral institutions in Afghanistan and to ensure a credible and legitimate process in accordance with the Afghan Election Law and in the framework of the Afghan Constitution.

Afghanistan's ambassador to the UN, Zahir Tanin, told the general assembly that his nation and government were 'deeply grateful' for the assembly's vote of confidence. He acknowledged there were problems with the vote but added that no elections are perfect.

"They are even less perfect in an emerging democracy threatened by conflict," he told the assembly.

"Complaints and irregularities were uncovered and addressed in a meticulously fair and systematic way," Tanin said. "The elections were as free as possible, as fair as possible, and as transparent as possible."

Afghanistan produces 92 percent of the world's opium, a thick paste from poppy used to make heroin, and the equivalent of 3,500 tons of opium is trafficked out of Afghanistan every year, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has said.

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