This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7923194.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Afghan election 'set for August' Afghan election 'set for August'
(41 minutes later)
Afghanistan's Election Commission has rejected President Hamid Karzai's call for an April presidential vote, saying it will take place on 20 August.Afghanistan's Election Commission has rejected President Hamid Karzai's call for an April presidential vote, saying it will take place on 20 August.
The head of the commission said it was not possible to hold the vote earlier.The head of the commission said it was not possible to hold the vote earlier.
Elections were due by May, when Mr Karzai's term ends, but postponed to August to allow more time to overcome security and logistical problems. Elections were due by May but had been postponed to August for security and logistical reasons - a delay that Mr Karzai challenged last weekend.
Mr Karzai's opponents, plus the US, Nato and the UN, have all rejected his moves to bring the vote forward. The latest decision has been welcomed by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
The president's term of office ends on 21 May, potentially creating a constitutional crisis if polls are held much later. Mr Karzai had issued a decree at the weekend calling for the poll to be moved forward to April to comply with the constitution.
According to Article 61 of Afghanistan's constitution, elections should be held 30 to 60 days before 22 May, the end of Mr Karzai's five-year term. According to Article 61 of the constitution, elections should be held 30 to 60 days before 22 May, the end of Mr Karzai's five-year term.
Mr Karzai issued a decree at the weekend calling for the poll to be moved forward to April to comply with the constitution. Mr Karzai's opponents, plus the US, Nato and the UN, have all been against Mr Karzai's move to bring the vote forward.
Challenges Bolstering security
"Due to the weather, security, budgetary and technical problems that we have, the elections cannot be held on the basis of the presidential decree," news agency Reuters quoted Azizullah Ludin, the head of government-appointed Election Commission, as saying. "While we respect and accept the president decree, its implementation is not possible because all the problems which we listed previously, which are mainly security and weather conditions, are still in place," Agence France-Presse news agency quoted Azizullah Ludin, the head of government-appointed Independent Election Commission (IEC), as saying.
International monitors have also said it would be difficult to hold a fair election by April for similar reasons. We have to hold transparent, free and fair elections. That's why we confirm the date of 20 August Azizullah Ludin,Afghan Election Commission chief class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7916863.stm">Analysis: Impossible deadline "This is why after a thorough study the [commission] came to the conclusion that we have to hold transparent, free and fair elections. That's why we confirm the date of 20 August," he said.
The US and other members of the international community support the commission's recommendation for an August poll, as the 17,000 foreign troops expected to bolster peacekeeping forces can be used to secure voting stations from the Taleban, reports say. The decision has been welcomed by the United Nations.
The commission's announcement confirms its original call made in January for the election to be postponed until August. "This date will provide the time needed for the IEC with the support of the international community to make practical and logistical preparations, for candidates to campaign, and for Afghan and international forces to provide security," special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan Kai Eide said in a statement.
Other international monitors have also said it would be difficult to hold a fair election by April for similar reasons.
The US and other members of the international community support the commission's recommendation for an August poll, as the 17,000 foreign troops expected to bolster peacekeeping forces could be used to secure voting stations from the Taleban, reports say.
The commission originally delayed the election in January.
Mr Ludin said at the time that the August date had been chosen after consultations with Afghan and international security forces.Mr Ludin said at the time that the August date had been chosen after consultations with Afghan and international security forces.
"They told us there will be new security forces here... and they will guarantee security," he told a news conference in Kabul in January. "They told us there will be new security forces here... and they will guarantee security," he said.
Afghanistan continues to experience militant attacks and suicide bombings by the Taleban, who were ousted from power in the US-led invasion of 2001.Afghanistan continues to experience militant attacks and suicide bombings by the Taleban, who were ousted from power in the US-led invasion of 2001.