UN official to end Afghan job

THE top UN official in Afghanistan said yesterday he will not renew his two-year contract when it expires in March.

Kai Eide, a Norwegian diplomat, is not stepping down but he has asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to start searching for a replacement.

Eide’s tenure was tarnished by allegations from his American deputy, Peter Galbraith, that he was not bullish enough in curbing fraud in the August presidential election. Eide denied the charge.