EU to observe Afghanistan vote

EU to observe Afghanistan vote
27.07.2005 The European Union deployed the first members of a 100-strong team charged with observing September elections in Afghanistan, which has seen a new surge in violence.

The EU said in a statement that 13 officials led by Emma Bonino, a former EU Commissioner for human rights, had left for the capital Kabul. They will prepare for the arrival in August of observers due to follow the election campaign in the provinces.

"The situation is still fragile and all steps are accompanied by high security measures," EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

"I believe it is therefore even more important that our election observation mission will increase transparency and confidence in the whole election process," she added.

The EU mission will be expanded the day before the September 18 UN-backed parliamentary polls with short-term observers who will oversee the voting, counting and tabulation of results.

Afghanistan's presidential elections last October were largely without incident. But the country is currently in the throes of its worst insurgent violence since 2001 and protecting the thousands of parliamentary candidates is seen as a tougher security challenge.

In a separate statement, the EU Commission said it was allocating 20 million euros ($A31.73 million) to provide shelter, sanitation and other humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan and Iran.

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