Brussels - NATO said Monday it fully supports Kai Eide, the United Nations' Special Representative in Afghanistan, who has been accused of covering up fraud in the country's presidential elections.

"NATO fully supports the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, including the role it is playing, in accordance with its mandate, in support of the Afghan elections," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement.

"The Alliance, and I personally, also have full confidence in the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Kai Eide, and commend him for the effort and commitment he has shown to helping Afghanistan build a better future," Rasmussen said.

The statement came after Eide's former deputy, Peter Galbraith, accused the Norwegian diplomat of downplaying evidence of electoral rigging in order to favour incumbent Afghan President President Hamid Karzai, which preliminary results suggest has won the vote.

Eide conceded on Sunday that "widespread fraud" had indeed taken place during the August poll, but declined to elaborate ahead of final election results, which are now expected later this month.

Galbraith levelled his accusations at Eide after being sacked by the UN's chief, Ban Ki-moon.

NATO's role in the election was to assist the Afghan army and police in providing security before, during and after the polling process. (dpa)