KABUL - Afghanistan played down recent anti-Western remarks by President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday saying they would not affect strategic relations between Kabul and the international community.
A war of words between Karzai and the White House escalated on Monday following a tirade by the Afghan president last week in which he accused the West of of carrying out election fraud in Afghanistan.
Karzai has not backed down from his remarks and appeared to sharpen the criticism further by singling out the United States specifically for blame. Washington said it was frustrated by the remarks and attempts to settle the feud had so far failed.
On Wednesday, Karzai's chief spokesman, Waheed Omer, said the comments would not affect strategic relations with the West, but stopped short of retracting the president's accusations of Western involvement in election fraud.
"It (Karzai's remarks) did not have any effect on the strategic relations with the United States and the international community," Omer told a news conference in Kabul.
"The strategic relationship between Kabul and Washington is still in the partnership of the international community. Our stance and position are the same," he said.
In another statement that could help placate Western concerns over fraud ahead of a parliamentary poll in September, Omer said the head of the country's government-appointed election body and his deputy were to be replaced.
"The working period of Mr. Azizullah Ludin, director of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), has finished and will not be extended," Omer said. "Daoud Ali Najafi has also resigned from his position which has been approved by the president," Omer said referring to the body's chief electoral officer.
Last year's presidential election damaged Karzai's standing among the Western countries with troops in Afghanistan after allegations of widespread fraud, including fraud carried out by officials in the IEC.
It led to months of political limbo, with the IEC declaring Karzai the winner but a separate U.N.-backed body rejecting enough ballots to lower Karzai's total below 50 percent and force a second round.
The run-off was cancelled when Karzai's opponent withdrew. Karzai has consistently maintained that the extent of fraud was exaggerated by Western media.
Omer said both IEC officials would be replaced soon, adding that both men would be offered high-ranking positions elsewhere, but he did not give any more details.
Holding a free and fair parliamentary election is seen as a crucial test for Afghanistan which is facing a resurgent Taliban, despite the presence of tens of thousands of Western troops, more than eight years since the militants' removal from power.
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