UN acknowledges 'widespread fraud' in Afghan vote
The top UN official in Afghanistan acknowledged “widespread fraud” in the disputed presidential election and rejected allegations from a former deputy that he covered up cheating to smooth the path to victory for President Hamid Karzai.
The remarks by Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide appeared designed to win back respect for both the troubled UN mission and the entire election process ahead of a ruling by investigators on whether fraud was extensive enough in the August 20 vote to require a runoff.
