Tower Hamlets, where George Galloway's Respect Party is trying to take control of the town hall, is likely to be a particular flash point.

BBC: Analysis

Oshima said it was not necessary for anti-Taliban forces to take control of the key northern town of Mazar-e Sharif before relief agencies could start moving south out of Uzbekistan.

CNN: Uzbekistan opens border town to U.N.

Mr. Gilbert denies that and calls the accusations "a conspiracy against me" by some town officials and disgruntled employees who want to take control of the police department.

WSJ: Small-Town Politics, All-Out War