Afghan President Gives Commission Final Say In Vote Dispute

Afghan President Hamid Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has issued a decree barring the country's courts from challenging election results, a move aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over last year's parliamentary polls.

The Afghan parliament has been in limbo for months after a special court called for the removal of 62 lawmakers, saying they had won their seats through fraud.

In his decree today, Karzai dissolved the special election tribunal and gave the Independent Election Commission the final say in election results.

A spokesman for Karzai, Siamak Herawi, said the commission will evaluate the court's findings and rule if any lawmakers should be removed.

compiled from agency reports