|
|
|
| 2003/08/02 |
Afghan factions to patch up splits
|
|
|
05:52:14 È.Ù
Kabul, Aug 2 - Sinior members of Afghanistan's northern alliance faction have met to patch up differences and discuss forming a new party, a move seen as an attempt to prevent their possible marginalisation in the US-backed government.
The meeting held on Friday in Kabul was the largest gathering of alliance members since it captured Kabul from the former Taliban regime in late 2001, an alliance official said.
Mohammad Fahim Qasim, Defence Minister and military leader of the alliance, vice president Abdul Karim Khalili, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah, Education Minister Yunis Qanuni and former Mujahideen leader Abdul Rabb Al-Rasoul Sayyaf all took part.
Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former president and symbolic ex-political leader of the alliance, was not present, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
He said the meeting discussed plans to establish a new party ahead of elections due to be held in the middle of next year and to confront any move to restrict the influence of the alliance in favour of Western-educated Afghans.
The move coincides with efforts by President Hamid Karzai to introduce reforms expected to shake up the powerful defence ministry, an alliance bastion dominated by Fahim's supporters.
Another alliance member said he believed the United States was pushing the reforms to reduce the power of the alliance and change public opinion in America about the weakness of Karzai's government.
|
|
|
