A female politician expelled from Afghanistan's parliament for alleged vote fraud has ended her 18-day hunger strike.

Simeen Barakzai resumed eating Wednesday on the urging of senior cleric and former President Hazrate Sebghatullah Mujadidi, who promised to take up her case.

Barakzai was one of nine members of parliament removed from their seats in August by Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission. The commission is trying to resolve long-running allegations of vote fraud against some winners of a 2010 parliamentary vote.

Some lawmakers who boycotted parliament to protest the expulsions returned to their seats earlier this month.