Afghans may vote today on council

KOENIGSWINTER, Germany -- A U.N. envoy whittled down a list of 150 candidates Tuesday for posts in a new interim authority for Afghanistan, seeking to achieve ethnic balance while satisfying the many rival factions.

Four ethnic factions presented U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi with candidates for 29 ministerial posts in a post-Taliban government that will take power from the Northern Alliance and run the country for six months.

A consensus on the Cabinet could trigger a speedy transfer of power in the Afghan capital -- with Dec. 22 envisioned as a target date -- and secure billions of dollars in promised aid.

"This is a very difficult hurdle," said Brahimi's spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi.

Brahimi was using ethnic balance as the main criterion for selection but also considering competence and integrity, Fawzi said.

A U.S. envoy to the talks said the four factions were to consider Brahimi's list during a meeting Tuesday night, which could set the stage for a final agreement today.

"At this point that's simply a hope," U.S. envoy James F. Dobbins said.

Hamid Karzai, a leading anti-Taliban commander who was fighting near Kandahar, appeared favored to head the interim council.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright