KABUL, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it would closely monitor developments in Afghanistan's parliament, which convenes this week under the shadow of a vote fraud investigation sanctioned by President Hamid Karzai.
The United States is pressing Karzai to demonstrate good governance as it looks to disentangle U.S. forces from an unpopular and escalating war now in its tenth year.
The West has fraught ties with Karzai, but with 150,000 troops fighting the war, it needs the government to show progress as it prepares to start handing over security duties to Afghan forces.
Parliament will sit on Wednesday for the first time since a Sept. 18 election marred by violence and widespread vote-rigging.
Karzai had plunged the country into political turmoil with a decision last week to delay the inauguration by a month, after a request from a special election court, that he himself had set up, for more time to investigate election fraud complaints.
The president rowed back under international and domestic pressure, agreeing to a Wednesday inauguration.
But the special election court, which has the power to disqualify members of parliament if it confirms corruption, is continuing its work and is considered under his influence.
Assembly members say the court is illegal, but the threat of an investigation could prove a powerful tool for Karzai to ward off challenges from the assembly.
The U.S. embassy in Kabul commended the agreement to convene on Wednesday, saying it demonstrated "respect for democratic governance", but added a note of concern, suggesting it would keep a close eye on how Karzai handles his parliament.
"While the United States welcomes today's outcome, we will continue to closely monitor this situation," the embassy said.
The United Nations mission to Afghanistan said the episode revealed "healthy debate" between Afghan institutions, "an encouraging sign of a progressing democracy". (Reporting by Matt Robinson; Editing by Emma Graham-Harrison and Robert Birsel) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)
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