Newspaper: UN envoy calls for stopping meddling in Afghan election

KABUL, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The special envoy of UN Secretary General to Afghanistan Kai Eide has called on Afghan administration to stay away from interfering into the electoral process, a local newspaper reported Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, we have seen an increasing tendency over the last few weeks of greater interference of some government officials, governors in particular," Daily Outlook quoted the top UN envoy to Afghanistan as saying.

"There is interference not only in favor of one candidate but there has been interference in favor of several candidates and I repeat that is an interference that must come to an end," quoting the UN envoy, the newspaper further said.

Afghanistan's second presidential election in the post-Taliban nation is going to be held amid tight security in Aug. 20 this year as Taliban insurgents have vowed to disrupt it.

Forty one candidates including the sitting president Hamid Karzai are on the race to secure the country's top slot.

"It is critically important that the election process is conducted in a way that makes it credible and inclusive so that, in the end, the Afghan people can accept the results of the elections," said the top UN diplomat in Afghanistan.