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KABUL (PAN): While spurning allegations of a poll fraud cover-up from his ex-deputy Peter Galbraith, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) head has acknowledged the presidential elections were marred irregularities.

"I have spent all my time over the last weeks for one purpose: And that is to bring this election process forward. That’s been a difficult process, marred by so many problems, not least, as you know, by widespread fraud," Kai Eide told a news conference here on Sunday.

It was important to continue the process of bringing democracy to Afghanistan, he argued, insisting what he had done was to implement his mandate with the full support of the global fraternity. He denied the allegation that he chose to ignore evidence of fraud in the elections and acted in favour of President Hamid Karzai.

"The allegations made by my former deputy have not only been personal attacks against me and my integrity, but they have been attacks that have, in fact, also affected the entire election process," he said of Galbraith's recent diatribe.

Also present on the occasion were ambassadors from several Western countries including the United States, Britain, Germany and France and NATO's senior civilian representative. The Norwegian diplomat viewed their presence as an indication of their support for what UNAMA was doing in the war-torn country.

"I could not take a decision one month before the election that would already disenfranchise a large number of Afghans. If we had done that, it would in itself have created an important element of potential instability in the country," he observing while commenting on his then deputy's suggestion for closing 1,200 polling sites.

Eide went on to reject claims that he refused to provide information, saying he had shared all relevant details with the Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC). "There was a constant sharing of information between UNAMA and the ECC before, during and after the elections."

The row between Eide and Galbraith led to the sacking of the latter on September 30 and the resignations of three other UN employees. Eide admitted the dispute had worsened situation by heightening the temperature of the discussion about poll fairness.

With regard to the so-called ghost polling stations, he said it was true that his deputy tried to reduce the number of voting centres. The UNAMA head added there was no truth to the assertion that ISAF, the US, the UK and the EU had agreed on Galbraith's position. "This is not correct."

According to preliminary results, Karzai has emerged on top with about 54 percent of the vote. His key challenger Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, who has repeatedly alleged massive irregularities in the polls, is in the second position, bagging 28 percent of the ballots cast.

Translated & edited by S. Mudassir Ali Shah