Afghan election commission head says Western donors should provide security, not interfere

Afghan vote chief: West should not meddle

KABUL — The chairman of Afghanistan’s election commission has warned that donor countries should help provide security for elections but not meddle in policy.

Fazel Ahmed Manawi was appointed last week after the former chairman was accused of trying to ignore massive ballot fraud in last year’s presidential vote.

A U.N.-backed watchdog group voided nearly a third of President Hamid Karzai’s votes in that poll, sparking disputes that threatened to derail the West’s uneasy partnership with Karzai.

Manawi said Thursday that international troops were needed to help secure a parliamentary election in September but that donor countries cannot dictate national policy.