**Western diplomats have expressed deep concern at a decree from Afghan President Hamid Karzai giving him total control over a key election body.**The move gives him the power to appoint all five members of Afghanistan’s Electoral Complaints Commission.
The body helped expose massive fraud in last year’s presidential election and nearly forced Mr Karzai into a runoff.
The decree comes as Nato-led forces fight a major operation against the Taliban in central Helmand province.
The BBC has been told the outgoing UN representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, had struck a private deal that two of the five commission members would be foreigners.
Under that agreement, one of the appointees was expected to have veto power.
But that deal does not feature in the new decree.
The commission will play a vital role in this year’s parliamentary poll.