Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Afghan lawmakers reject majority of Cabinet picks
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Afghan lawmakers reject majority of Cabinet picks
By RAHIM FAIEZ,Associated Press Writer -
Sunday, January 17
Send
IM Story
Print
KABUL – The Afghan parliament rejected the majority of President Hamid Karzai's second slate of Cabinet choices Saturday, dealing a new setback to the U.S.-backed leader's effort to assemble a team that can focus on badly needed reforms.
The U.S. and other countries contributing troops and aid have pushed Karzai to get his second-term administration in place ahead of a Jan. 28 international conference on Afghanistan to be held in London. The mixed results will further delay the process, two weeks after parliament rejected 70 percent of his first Cabinet picks.
Lawmakers have complained that some of the candidates on the president's new list lacked the credentials to serve in the 25-member Cabinet. Others claimed that some nominees are too closely aligned with warlords, or were picked to pay back political supporters who helped get the president re-elected.
The 224 lawmakers present approved just seven of 17 nominees, including Karzai's longtime national security adviser, Zalmay Rasoul, who will be foreign minister, a new justice minister and a woman who was named to the portfolio of Work and Social Affairs/Martyred and Disabled.
The 10 rejected included two other women nominated for the posts of women's affairs and public health as well as Karzai's choices for the ministries of higher education, commerce, transportation, public works, refugee and border and tribal affairs.
The slew of rejections _ which leave Karzai with nearly a third of his Cabinet posts unfilled _ is sure to worry the international community, which had hoped last year's elections would usher in a strong government to help keep disenchanted Afghans from siding with Taliban insurgents amid warnings violence will worsen as the U.S. and other countries step up efforts in the country.
Continued political turmoil has distracted Karzai from that fight, even as the insurgency grows more virulent. A NATO service member was killed by a roadside bomb Saturday in southern Afghanistan, according to the international force. It did not provide more details.
"The rejection of the majority of the list shows that the people of Afghanistan are not happy with the work of the government," said deputy parliamentary speaker Mirwais Yasini, a lawmaker from Nangahar province. "This will disrupt the work of the government and it's not good for the future and the fate of the country."
Kabul resident Mohammad Ershad agreed, saying Karzai's picks "will never win because the government didn't do anything the past eight years and there is no hope from it in the future."
Karzai's office issued a brief statement saying he had chosen the nominees "based on their talents, expertise and national participation" and regretted the outcome.
He must now put forward new nominees, which must be approved by parliament according to the Afghan constitution, but his office gave no indication when that might occur.
The discord stood in sharp contrast to the previous Cabinet vote in 2006 _ the first by elected lawmakers to endorse a Cabinet following landmark parliamentary elections. Most of Karzai's choices were easily approved at that time in what was seen as an endorsement for the president's efforts to rebuild Afghanistan after almost three decades marred by Soviet occupation, civil war and Taliban rule.
The approval of at least one woman on the roster, Amina Afzali, was a minor victory for the president's efforts to place more women in high government posts in the traditionally male-dominated society, although lawmakers expressed disappointment that the other two candidates were rejected.
The only woman on Karzai's previous team _ Minister of Women's Affairs Husn Bano Ghazanfar _ was rejected by parliament the first time around.
"Unfortunately we have some lawmakers who still can't vote for a woman, even when they see one who is very active, talented and well-educated," said Mohammad Ali Sitigh, a lawmaker from Day Kundi province.
U.S.-supported incumbents in the key portfolios of defense, interior, finance and agriculture were already approved in the initial Jan. 2 vote.
Karzai has not yet submitted a name to replace Ismail Khan, an infamous warlord who currently is the minister of water and energy and was rejected in the first vote.
NATO said Saturday that 11 insurgents had been killed in an overnight operation by Afghan and NATO forces that also netted a sizable amount of black tar opium and weapons and bomb-making materials in the Nad Ali district of the southern Helmand province.
Also Saturday, a district official was wounded when his vehicle was hit by a remote-controlled bomb in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan, said police spokesman Wazir Pacha. Latifullah Babakherkhail, chief administrator of Bak district, was on his way to his office when the blast occurred, damaging his vehicle, Pacha said.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
China launches orbiter for navigation system: state media AFP - 2 hours 18 minutes ago
Rugged North Waziristan harbors US enemies AP - Sunday, January 17
Pakistani Taliban leader denies death on tape Reuters - Sunday, January 17
Pakistani Taliban chief alive after US strike AFP - Sunday, January 17
Afghan lawmakers reject Cabinet nominees AP - Sunday, January 17
News Search
Top Stories
Johnson & Johnson accused of drug kickbacks
Cancer-stricken Dennis Hopper files for divorce
Obama defends banking fee
Britain rules out copying US bank tax plan
Hershey eyes $17.9 bln bid for Cadbury: report
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Aborigines to ask Prince William for slain warrior's head
Chicago businessman charged over Mumbai attacks
Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset
JP Morgan reports big jump in profits to $3.27 bln
Airbus A400M partners 'committed': Britain
More Most Viewed »
Beat the blues by going to bed early: study
Huge tomb found at Egypt's Saqqara pyramid
Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100
Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 17 January 2010 Israel threatens to expel Turkish ambassador
Yahoo pulled into Google fracas, Alibaba reacts
Johnson & Johnson accused of drug kickbacks
Big powers meet on Iran but expectations low
Cancer-stricken Dennis Hopper files for divorce
Pakistani Taliban leader denies death on tape
|
Darfur rebels say Sudan army attacks market area
Iraq says it captures man who oversaw UN bombing
Mexican crime reporter killed in apparent drug hit
|
Port-au-Prince looting worsens, turns violent
|
Spanish politician threatens to sue over bin Laden photo
|
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran unite against extremism
French academic's lawyer upbeat on Iran verdict
Libya postpones trial of Swiss businessman
|
Lawyer hopeful Iran will acquit French academic
Scenes from hell as dead pile up at Haiti hospital
|
Iraqi former pilot accused in 2003 U.N. bombing
Apathy grips hard-up Ukraine village ahead of polls
|
Afghan bomb kills NATO soldier as troop toll hits 27
Darfur rebels say Sudan army attacks market area
|
For $65, tourists get peek at Los Angeles gangland
Rugged North Waziristan harbors US enemies
US Navy en route to make Haiti seaport usable
Pakistani Taliban leader denies death on tape
Ohio: Teen's suicide attempt ignored by guard
Pakistani Taliban chief alive after US strike
A documentary in the works for Balloon Boy's dad
Afghan lawmakers reject Cabinet nominees
Watchdog calls Afghan energy effort disappointing
NYC crews sent to Haiti draw on 9/11 experience
Afghan lawmakers reject majority of Cabinet picks
Civil unions may get quick vote at Hawaii Capitol
US: Brutality erodes Pakistani militants' support
Portland high-rise to get 250-foot-tall trellises
Japan's kingmaker vows to stay on as scandal widens
For health care, a frantic ride in the final days
USA network shakes up schedule under new strategy
Turkish movie sparks Israeli fury
Citigroup To Donate $2.0 Million To Haiti Recovery Efforts
Obama Tightens Leash On Financial Institutions In His Weekly Address
Iraq reclaims a Jewish history it once shunned
Mini drone and iPhone take video games to real world
World pledges quake aid, Haitians still waiting
|
Polls open in Ukraine's presidential elections
Obama's 1st yr marked by diplomacy, but few results
No agreement on Iran sanctions
Polish Prime Minister wins 2010 Charlemagne prize
Obama surprises Michelle with birthday dinner
Apple turns up heat in Nokia battle with ITC filing
U.N. confirms death of Haiti mission chief Annabi
|
EU pushes for deeper carbon emissions cuts
British bank sector hails Obama bank levy as fair
Pro-Russia politician set to sweep Ukraine polls
Ukraine votes in election key to foreign relations
|
U.S. drone attack kills 7 in Pakistan's Waziristan
|
Nexus One stumbles as Google joins smartphone race
No decision on new Iran sanctions
Rescuers battle to reach Haitians still alive in rubble
Abbas signals readiness to resume talks with Israel
|
Angolan police arrest priest in Cabinda
|
Abbas signals readiness to resume talks with Israel
As poll looms, Myanmar still building parliament
|
Six major powers mulling new Iran sanctions: EU official
Dual images dilemma for Japan's ruling party: Ozawa
|
Israel threatens to expel Turkish ambassador
Hesitant Wall Street looks for more recovery evidence
First Israeli Cabinet minister to visit Abu Dhabi
El Salvador's Funes apologizes for civil war abuses
|
US-TECH Summary
Apple turns up heat in Nokia battle with ITC filing
Google denies leaving China, seeks negotiations
|
Man of Haitian descent arrested in breach at JFK
1 dead, 5 pupils missing in Malaysia boat accident
Gunmen kill anti-Taliban tribal elder in Pakistan
A year later, hope dissolves into disappointment
Girl killed, 4,000 homeless in Manila slum fire
Yahoo pulled into Google fracas, Alibaba reacts
|
Gunmen shoot Philippine passenger bus, wound 11
S.Korea's aims to boost medical tourism market
Japan threatens action on China gas project
Subsidies prop up cotton country through downturn
Dual images dilemma for Japan's ruling party
A by-the-numbers look at Obama's first year
12 wounded in Philippines bus ambush: military
Bodies of 8 China peacekeepers recovered in Haiti
Police report another sex assault in Calif. city
Ratings soaring for O'Brien
Utah Senate leader resigns 1 day after his arrest
Sri Lanka's Tamils wary of election spotlight
slammed by China partner for Google support
Teetering JAL pins hopes on management guru
China seeks to avoid Japan-style bust: experts
China markets set for new phase in 2010
Asia's IT parts makers struggle with demand boom
Google attacks spotlight global cyber espionage
`SNL' lampoons late-night mess with sketch
Ratings rise for O'Brien as nasty NBC exit nears
'Slumdog' director making film about hiker's story
Medvedev photo outdoes Putin's painting
Iraq's "Chemical Ali" gets 4th death sentence
'Beware Internet use', Malaysia warns
Ex-Tehran prosecutor rejects post-vote abuse report
Iraq's Chemical Ali gets 4th death sentence
|
Afghan parliament to recess without confirming cabinet
|
Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' sentenced to death
Israel's Barak in bid to mend fences with Turkey
Israeli minister visits Abu Dhabi for first time
US soldier dies in Afghanistan: NATO
Venezuela arrests alleged drug lord wanted by U.S
|
Chile magnate may oust left, fights Pinochet ghost
|
Man dies after setting off bomb in Iran city: report
|
Pope says synagogue visit milestone despite problems
|
Gunmen kill Afghan district chief, 5 other people
Obama to give church talk, stump in Massachusetts
Pakistani officials: Suspected US drone kills 12
The nation's weather
US drone strike 'kills 20 militants in NW Pakistan'
AP NewsAlert
Apple turns up heat in Nokia battle
|
2 dead, 4 pupils missing in Malaysia boat accident
Veteran Indian communist leader Jyoti Basu dies
NKorea's Kim calls for stronger army amid tension
Haiti sympathy at Kobe memorial for 1995 quake
Indonesian Muslims protest Egypt's Gaza wall
Malaysia church attacks 'minor aberration': PM
Golden Globes host Gervais ready to play favorites
'Super nannies' for troubled Australian families
Hollywood gets ready for Golden Globes
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights