The secretary general reaffirmed “his full support for Eide’’ and made his decision “in the best interest of the mission,’’ Montas said.
Neither Galbraith nor Eide, a Norwegian diplomat, have offered details of the disagreement, though Eide has confirmed that the two split over election issues.
The delay in final results from the Aug. 20 vote has led to fears of a power vacuum in the Afghan government that could endure until spring, even as Taliban violence against US and NATO soldiers and Afghan civilians continues to rise.
The UN Mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA, had a mandate to support the Afghan government in conducting the Aug. 20 elections. It also has a mandate to lead international civilian efforts to provide aid, promote reconstruction, combat corruption, help improve civilian-military cooperation, and expand the UN presence throughout the country to promote good governance and the rule of law.
Britain’s UN Ambassador John Sawers said: “We believe Peter Galbraith brought energy and ideas, but there has to be a single leadership on the main issues of policy.’’
Sawers said Galbraith and Eide had a policy dispute on UNAMA’s postelection role.
“I think it’s mainly a question of whether it was the UN’s role to determine the validity or otherwise of the election and the results of that election,’’ he said.
“In fact, Mr. Eide is correct in saying that those responsibilities rest with other bodies - the Independent Election Commission and the Election Complaints Commission. They are independent bodies,’’ Sawers said.
Galbraith oversaw electoral matters for the United Nations before and after the vote. Following allegations of widespread vote-rigging, he reportedly pressed the Election Commission to conduct a wide-ranging recount.
Asked about Galbraith’s departure, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who chaired a meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday, told reporters: “That’s a United Nations matter.’’
