Foreign observers worried after hotel attack

KABUL (Pajhwok): Two election watchdogs on Sunday said foreign poll observers were concerned about their safety following the death of their colleague in Thursday’s attack on the heavily-fortified Serena Hotel in the heart of Kabul.

Fair and Free Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) spokesman Fahim Naeemi to Pajhwok Afghan News the slain international observer was a former Paraguayan diplomat who had recently arrived in Afghanistan.

He said such horrifying attacks could negatively impact the mission of foreign observers, who would confine their activities to secure areas during the election process.

He said the presence of international observers could guarantee credible elections and their absence would raise questions regarding transparency.

Meanwhile, Transparent and Free Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA) director Naeem Ayubzada also expressed his concerns over the foreign observer’s killing in the Serena hotel attack, which he said had left the rest of international observers in Afghanistan worried about their security.

He said if international observers left the country due to security fears and attempts on their lives, it would put at stake the legitimacy of the April 5 elections.

mrh/ma

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