KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of the final list of candidates for the 2014 presidential and provincial council polls.

In a statement, UNAMA also hailed what it termed the timely completion of the adjudication of complaints by the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC).

"The completion of the candidate nomination period marks another important step for the Afghan people in the process of electing the country's next leader and Provincial Councils," said the UN chief’s special representative.

Ján Kubiš added: “The candidates and their supporters bear the responsibility of fully upholding Afghan electoral laws and other relevant electoral provisions, as well as international standards for peaceful, transparent, credible, inclusive and fair elections,” Kubiš added.

He urged the Afghan electoral bodies, candidates and their teams to take all measures to ensure the election process was marked by the highest degree of integrity, free from internal and external interference and fraud. (Pajhwok)