Afghan election officials fired ahead of run-off

[ej510]

Source: Reuters

Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:00am EDT

By Jonathon Burch and Maria GolovninaKABUL (Reuters) - Half of the most senior Afghan district election officials will be fired, U.N. officials said on Wednesday, to prevent more fraud in a run-off presidential poll crucial to the country's credibility and foreign support.

The announcement of a November 7 run-off removed one stumbling block for U.S. President Barack Obama as he weighs whether to send more troops to Afghanistan to fight a resurgent Taliban.

Many within Obama's Democratic Party have spoken out against sending more troops, while Republican opponents say his lengthy deliberations on a new strategy are undermining U.S. troops and emboldening the Taliban.

Cont'd at the link:

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSSP50491720091021

[msongs]

1. perhaps Mr. Obama can fire some generals who are Bush hacks nt

[AndyA]

2. I think Obama needs to clean house. Out with all the Bushies, and

everyone who was involved in the financial scandal, who is currently in his administration. You cannot expect an active alcoholic to guard the liquor cabinet, and that's exactly what he's allowing to happen. Allowing the same people who were involved in the abuses in recent years to remain in charge isn't the change we wanted when we voted for Obama.

We need transparency, we need investigations, and we need prosecutions to make sure the Bush years NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. EVER.

[SlingBlade]

3. Yep. House Cleaning Time, Way over due

[Turborama]

4. Sack Afghan poll officials - UN

Source: BBC

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said the UN wants more than half the top officials involved in Afghanistan's election replaced.

Mr Ban told the BBC that 200 officials who had been complicit in fraud should go, to ensure a run-off vote due next month was "transparent and credible".

=snip=

Meanwhile the BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says there are indications that President Karzai and Mr Abdullah may reach some kind of deal, meaning that the run-off may not be required.

=snip=

Speaking on the BBC's Newsnight programme on Tuesday, Mr Abdullah said a coalition government was unlikely, but if elections proved impossible for "practical reasons" the two rivals needed to talk to find an alternative solution.

There are concerns that holding a second round of voting in November could lead to a repeat of August's massive fraud, as well as logistical problems caused by winter weather, which could leave much of the north of the country inaccessible.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8317509.stm

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UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon: "We will take all necessary measures" (Video): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8317633.stm

[Vidar]

5. Glad to hear it.