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KABUL (PAN): At a critical time in the poll process, a senior Afghan member of the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) announced quitting the panel, alleging his inputs were ignored by 'foreigners.'

Confirming Commissioner Maulvi Mohammad Mustafa Barakzai's resignation, the ECC voiced disappointment at his decision that came as the electoral watchdog prepared to announce the outcome of its probe into vote fraud charges.

"The ECC regrets the resignation of an important member at this crucial time in the elections process. Mustafa Barakzai was an integral member of the Commission and took part equally in all meetings," the panel said in a statement on Monday.

However, the panel reiterated its dedication to the elections process, assuring it would continue to work openly and honestly in implementation of its mandate under the Afghan Electoral Law. "This will not distract the ECC from continuing to focus on the task at hand."

Barakzai, one of the two Afghans on the commission investigation election irregularities, cited interference by foreigners as a reason for his resignation. The aliens took all decisions on their own without consulting their Afghan counterparts, he claimed.

Dr. Nazifullah Salarzai, a spokesman for the UN mission in Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News the resignation was deplorable. But he stressed the ECC should push ahead with its mandate. "Afghans want to see as soon as possible the kind of election results that genuinely reflect their aspirations," he remarked.

In response to allegations levelled by Barakzai, Salarzai said they had full confidence in the work being done by ECC members appointed by Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide.

The foreign nationals on the commission, which is scheduled to rule this week on the result of its investigations into poll fraud, are one American, one Canadian and one Dutch.

Siamak Heravi, a deputy spokesman for President Hamid Karzai, promised the government would definitely investigate Barakzai's allegations if they were found genuine.

A day earlier, the top UN diplomat in Afghanistan acknowledged the August 20 presidential elections were marred by irregularities. However, he spurned allegations of a poll fraud cover-up from his ex-deputy Peter Galbraith.

"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 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.

A day earlier, an official said, the electoral watchdog announced the handover to Afghanistan's Independent Election (IEC) of 358 suspect ballot boxes after completing their random audit.

An ECC spokesman told a news conference in Kabul the 358 ballot boxes examined were part of a total of 3,498, affected by a September 8 order of the ECC for an audit and recount.

Fahim Hakim revealed the audit and recount covered 10 percent of the ballots cast in the fraud-marred presidential polls held on August 20. "We are at a final stage of investigating complaints (or irregularities). Evaluation of the allegations will be completed soon."

He added the ECC might submit its final report to the IEC at the end of the week, enabling the poll panel to unveil the final outcome of the presidential vote. Complaints from 20 provinces had been probed and the rest would be disposed of shortly, Hakim assured.

mud/pr