Afghan president takes over election watchdog appointments

KABUL -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has taken control of a formerly independent body that monitors election fraud, raising concerns that he is reneging on promises to clean up corruption and cronyism -- a pillar of the Obama administration's plan to erode support for the Taliban.

Karzai signed a decree giving him the power to appoint all members of the Electoral Complaints Commission, a group previously dominated by U.N. appointees that said it uncovered massive fraud on behalf of Karzai in last year's presidential election.

The decree, which Karzai signed last week and made public on Monday, suggests that the president wants to tighten control of the electoral process ahead of parliamentary balloting in September. The election was due in May but was postponed because foreign donors would not help pay for it without reforms.

"This is bad news for democracy," said Gerard Russell, a former U.N. political adviser who resigned over disputes in the last presidential election. "Basically, if President Karzai wishes it, this could prevent free elections ever being held in Afghanistan." Western diplomats in Kabul, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed similar concerns.

Following the disputed August elections, the United States and international partners pressed Karzai into promising to root out corruption and institute electoral reforms.

The chaotic balloting prompted critics in the United States and other NATO countries to question whether Karzai could be a reliable partner in the fight against the Taliban. Government corruption is often cited as a major reason many Afghans have turned to the militant Islamist group.

Karzai has taken steps toward combating corruption, requiring that all senior government officials register their assets, for example. But diplomats fear the new decree is a step backward.

The new measure gives the president the authority to appoint all five commissioners in consultation with parliamentary leaders and the head of the country's high court.

Previously, the U.N. appointed the chairman and two other members. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court named one commissioner each.

A Karzai spokesman said the changes were made because foreigners had too much control over the last election.

"The international members had large salaries and didn't care about Afghanistan's national interest," Syamak Herawi said. "Now there won't be any interference. The foreigners can be observers." Herawi said the commission will still be independent because Karzai must consult with others.

-- Associated Press