Afghan MPs talk to government over Parliament delay
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Afghan lawmakers said on Friday they were holding talks with the government to try to resolve a standoff after President Hamid Karzai delayed opening the new fraud-hit parliament by a month.
They are hoping Mr Karzai will change his mind and attend on Sunday when they plan to inaugurate Parliament on the date originally scheduled for the opening, two prominent lawmakers told AFP.
Mr Karzai's office announced on Wednesday that the inauguration of the new assembly, originally expected on Sunday, was being put on hold until on February 22.
The announcement came after the head of a special tribunal, which is ruling on more than 400 cases of alleged electoral fraud in September's Parliamentary elections, called for a delay of at least a month, warning it could rule in favour of recounts.
But in response, defiant winning members of parliament said on Thursday they would open the new Wolesi Jirga without Mr Karzai on Sunday, as originally planned.
Alemi Balkhi, a leading lawmaker from Kabul, said there was a "strong expectation" that Mr Karzai, currently visiting Russia, could make a further announcement soon.
"According to the constitution, Mr Hamid Karzai as president should inaugurate the Parliament. We have talked to the President and we will hold more talks with the President in this regard," he said.
"There is a strong expectation that the President will change his mind and announce a new decision in this regard on Friday or Saturday.
"Lawmakers are determined to inaugurate the new Parliament on Sunday. We strongly hope that the President will be there when it happens."
They hope to meet Mr Karzai Saturday on his return from Russia.
A spokesman for the President, Hamid Elmi, said he could not comment on the situation. But a government source indicated that a fresh official statement could be released on Saturday.
Another lawmaker, Ahmad Behzad from Herat in Western Afghanistan, added that some Parliamentarians had met international officials over the situation.
"We will continue our efforts to the last moment to convince the government to participate in the inauguration ceremony," he said.
Electoral authorities disqualified 24 early winners, including allies of the President, and threw out around a quarter of about five million votes cast in September's elections.
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