Afghanistan - Uncertainty on the election of Head of State at Loya Jirga

AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | Tuesday June 11, 2002 - 15h12 GMT

[HAL9000]

Uncertainty on the election of a head of the State

Tuesday June 11, 2002 - 15h12 GMT

KABUL, June 11 (AFP) - Afghanistan, which started Tuesday its Loya Jirga, kind of traditional constituent assembly, was not sure to have a head of the State Tuesday evening.

At the time of a difficult explanation of text, at the end of the inaugural session, the president of the commission of organization of Loya Jirga, Mohammad Ismael Qasimyar, said at the same time that Hamid Karzaï "had been confirmed" at its station "in an adequate way", and that work of Wednesday could call this point in question.

It however refused to answer by "yes" or "not" the questions of the journalists asking to him whether Mr. Karzaï were well the new head of the State, and chair it government of transition which must lead the country to general elections within two years.

"the proposal made by Zaher Shah (the former king) that Hamid Karzaï becomes head of the State was well accomodated, applauded and thus confirmed", said Mr. Kasymiar. Pressed questions by the journalists, it however acknowledged that the session of work of Wednesday could "change the things".

"It is like that in Loya Jirga" it added, while refusing to specify if the decisions of this assembly were caught by acclamation or vote.

Ashraf Ghani, one of the principal advisers of Mr. Karzaï, said for its part to the journalists that a "formal proposal" had been made so that Mr. Karzaï becomes head of the State, but that Loya Jirga "had not adopted yet its procedures of operation or election" and that it could not thus still be question of election.

Questioned on the possible election of Karzaï to the head of the government of transition, the spokesman of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Omer Samad, answered that it awaited "clarifications" and that it was not able to bring a firm and final answer.

Mr. Qasimyar admitted that the temporary government, set up on December 22 after signed the inter-Afghan agreements on December 5 in Bonn, was not any more in function, his lifespan stopping with the inaugural session of Loya Jirga.

Same manner, the title of "Father of the nation" conferred to the former sovereign, now 87 years old, at the suggestion of Mr. Karzaï, "was accomodated by applause, therefore confirmed and endorsed", Mr. Kasymiar estimated.

Zaher Shah is thus now regarded as "Baba" (father in language darie), added the president of the commission.

Mr. Qasimyar affirmed that Loya Jirga was "historical and determining" and it underlined the fact that, for the first time in the history of the country, also large numbers women had been delegated in Kabul.

[Shermy]

Confusing, but might be more accurate than counting hanging chads.