UN special envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide on Monday said his position was not under threat despite reports of growing tension with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, according to dpa. "I feel secure. I have the full support of the international community," Eide was quoted as telling Norwegian news agency NTB. Eide, a Norwegian national, met Monday with Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Oslo and later told reporters that he had expected the criticism and was sure that the incoming government would do more to tackle corruption. Over the weekend the Afghan foreign ministry issued a statement critical of Eide, saying he had "delivered comments which exceeded international norms and his authority as a representative of an impartial international organization." The statement apparently referred to Eide"s comments last week urging Karzai and his new government to push for reforms. The comments were made after Karzai was declared the winner of the August presidential election. The planned runoff vote was cancelled when the remaining challenger Abdullah Abdullah dropped out, citing fears of continued vote rigging. If relations with Karzai break down, Eide may need to be replaced, Kristian Berg Harpviken, head of the Oslo-based International Peace Research Institute (PRIO) told NTB.
