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Afghan election 'set for August' Afghan elections set for August
(about 5 hours 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 but had been postponed to August for security and logistical reasons - a delay that Mr Karzai challenged last weekend.Elections were due by May but had been postponed to August for security and logistical reasons - a delay that Mr Karzai challenged last weekend.
The latest decision has been welcomed by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. The UN and Nato welcomed the new ruling, saying the extra time was needed to improve security.
Mr Karzai had issued a decree at the weekend calling for the poll to be moved forward to April to comply with the constitution.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 the 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. The president argued that meant the elections would have to be held no later than 21 April.
Mr Karzai's opponents, plus the US, Nato and the UN, have all been against Mr Karzai's move to bring the vote forward. 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
Bolstering security Mr Karzai's opponents, plus the US, Nato and the UN, have all been against the earlier vote.
"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. A statement from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan said that the commission's move would enable them to provide the "right security conditions" in support of the Afghan forces.
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. "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," the AFP news agency quoted Azizullah Ludin, the head of government-appointed Independent Election Commission (IEC), as saying.
The decision has been welcomed by the United Nations. "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.
"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. Interim arrangements
The special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, said in a statement: "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."
Other international monitors have also said it would be difficult to hold a fair election by April for similar reasons.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 BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that what is not clear is what happens between the president stepping down and the August elections.
The commission originally delayed the election in January. Mr Karzai wants to remain in power but his opponents say that he should be removed from office when his term comes to an end.
Mr Ludin said at the time that the August date had been chosen after consultations with Afghan and international security forces. Our correspondent says that both the president and parliament will now need to reach an agreement to resolve this issue.
"They told us there will be new security forces here... and they will guarantee security," he said. The US is also likely to 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.
Afghanistan continues to experience militant attacks and suicide bombings by the Taleban, who were ousted from power in the US-led invasion of 2001.