The Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) or the election commission has accepted opposition candidates' demand and asked the UN to constitute an expert committee to probe into the allegations, a JEMB spokesman announced in Kabul Monday afternoon.

"In order to further enhance the transparency and legitimacy of the election, the JEMB decided to request the United Nations to identify an impartial panel of international experts to fully investigate these protests and present recommendations to the JEMB for its adjudication," Ray Kennedy told journalists here.

Karzai's 15 competitors in the just-concluded October 9 elections alleged the transitional government's involvement in polling stations and threatened to boycott its result if a thorough investigation was not launched.

A presidential candidate Hajji Mohammad Mohaqiq categorically stated Sunday that representatives of candidates should be included in the investigating team, while the JEMB spokesman rejected the notion by saying "we hope the result of the panel's report would be accepted."

"This panel's work will supplement the work already underway by the JEMB's existing Complaints and Investigation Unit," the spokesman emphasized.

The panel members include Craig Jenness, a former Canadian diplomat and jurist, Staffan Darnolf, an election administration specialist from Sweden while another expert from the European Union will soon join the team.

The board headed by Jenness will be supported in their work by international staff in each of the regions of Afghanistan.

"The JEMB will issue a final statement on the election once it receives and reviews the complete unofficial results from the Electoral Secretariat and the report of the expert panel. The finding of the expert panel will also be made public," he noted.

Karzai's chief challenger emphasizes investigation in alleged poll fraud

President Hamid Karzai's chief challenger Mohammad Yunus Qanooni Monday stressed investigation into the alleged election rigging.

"I will accept the result of the investigation conducted by an impartial committee," he told journalists Monday, two days after the landmark presidential polls held on Saturday.

Joining his fellow candidates, he emphasized that the investigative committee should be comprised of candidates' representatives, UN, EU's envoys and international observers.

The former Education Minister, who earlier exchanged views with the special envoy of the UN Secretary General Jean Arnault and the US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, pointed out that he was against boycotting the election rather wanted "thorough investigation to ensure the election's transparency."

"Mr. Khalilzad and Mr. Arnault agreed to have candidates' representatives in the investigation commission," Qanooni confirmed.

Karzai's 15 candidates who accused the government of rigging and stayed away of voting had frequently demanded Karzai's resignation ahead of the election, which was dismissed by him as unconstitutional.

To pacify the row and ensure the fairness in the election, the election commission asked UN to constitute an expert panel to look into the allegations and complaints forwarded by the opposition candidates.

The result of the voting, according to the election commission officials, will not be announced unless the investigative team completes its report.

However, the election commission rejected the inclusion of candidates' representatives to the investigative team saying " we hope the candidates accept the result of the investigation."

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2004)