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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan election 'postponed' | Afghanistan election 'postponed' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Afghanistan is to postpone its parliamentary elections by four months until September, a senior election official has said. | Afghanistan is to postpone its parliamentary elections by four months until September, a senior election official has said. |
| Elections had been scheduled to take place before 22 May under the constitution but a new date of 18 September has been suggested. | Elections had been scheduled to take place before 22 May under the constitution but a new date of 18 September has been suggested. |
| Last year's presidential election was marred by fraud. | Last year's presidential election was marred by fraud. |
| Western countries have been pushing for more time to implement reforms ahead of the parliamentary vote. | Western countries have been pushing for more time to implement reforms ahead of the parliamentary vote. |
| The postponement has not yet been confirmed by the government but news agencies quoted a senior election official and a Western diplomat as confirming the move. | The postponement has not yet been confirmed by the government but news agencies quoted a senior election official and a Western diplomat as confirming the move. |
| A formal announcement on the postponement is expected later on Sunday. | A formal announcement on the postponement is expected later on Sunday. |
| One Afghan source said the delay was due to a lack of funds to pay for the election. | |
| UN funds are available to fund elections but are contingent on reforms to the system. | |
| London conference | |
| Afghanistan is facing continuing political uncertainty with a number of cabinet posts still vacant following the re-election of Hamid Karzai as president. | Afghanistan is facing continuing political uncertainty with a number of cabinet posts still vacant following the re-election of Hamid Karzai as president. |
| Parliament has twice rejected many of Mr Karzai's nominations for a new cabinet, forcing the president to direct deputy ministers or other caretaker figures to run their ministries. | Parliament has twice rejected many of Mr Karzai's nominations for a new cabinet, forcing the president to direct deputy ministers or other caretaker figures to run their ministries. |
| The uncertainty comes ahead of a key conference on Afghanistan in London next week. | |
| Improving the governance of Afghanistan will be a key issue at the conference, along with security. | |
| Western nations will try to cement their strategy both for increased foreign troops and a strengthened Afghan force. | |
| US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said last week the "strategy for Afghanistan is settled" and the London summit would implement it. | |
| A panel of officials from Afghanistan, the UN and countries contributing troops recently agreed to increase the size of the Afghan National Army from the current figure of about 97,000 to 171,600 by the end of 2011. | |
| Last year, US President Barack Obama announced a review of strategy, saying he would send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. | |
| Nato allies agreed to send at least 7,000 extra troops to support the US surge. |