Afghanistan\'s presidential election will be held on April 5, 2014, months ahead of the final withdrawal of NATO combat troops from the insurgency-plagued nation, a poll official said on Tuesday. President Hamid Karzai, who is serving his second term, is constitutionally barred from running in the election and has been under pressure from opposition groups to announce the date. Afghanistan\'s Independent Election Commission said in a statement that the date for the vote was set and would be officially announced at a press conference on Wednesday. But a senior official in the commission told AFP on condition of anonymity that the scheduled date was \"Hamal 16, 1393\", referring to the Afghan solar calendar. The date coincides with April 5, 2014. Karzai\'s re-election in 2009 was marred by widespread allegations of fraud, and the credibility of the next vote is seen as crucial to Afghanistan\'s stability after the NATO withdrawal. \"The transparency and credibility of the elections are of paramount importance for NATO,\" its spokesman in Afghanistan, Dominic Medley, said last week. The International Crisis Group think-tank warned this month that the Kabul government could fall apart after NATO troops withdraw, particularly if the presidential elections are plagued by fraud. The Afghan government announced last week that it will not accept foreigners on a key election watchdog for the presidential elections, a move that may undermine the credibility of the poll. Karzai said the presence of foreigners in the Electoral Complaints Commission went against the \"sovereignty of Afghanistan\", suggesting that the two foreigners on the five-member body will be removed. Karzai\'s spokesman, Aimal Faizi, said foreigners were still welcome as election monitors but the government was able to ensure the poll was fair. Karzai has been the only elected head of state in Afghanistan since a 2001 US-led invasion brought down the hardline Islamist Taliban regime.
GMT 17:53 2017 Tuesday ,31 October
Suicide bomber attacks Kabul's diplomatic zoneGMT 20:22 2017 Friday ,20 October
Suicide bombings in Afghanistan hit mosques, killing 63GMT 18:44 2017 Thursday ,19 October
43 Afghan soldiers killed in attack on military base: officialsGMT 13:06 2017 Thursday ,19 October
Dozens killed as Taliban launch fresh assaultsGMT 19:18 2017 Wednesday ,18 October
Death toll in Afghan suicide attacks rises to 80: officialsGMT 11:26 2017 Tuesday ,17 October
Suicide bombers, gunmen kill 32 in attack on Afghan policeGMT 10:57 2017 Wednesday ,23 August
Taliban suicide bomber kills five in AfghanistanGMT 09:26 2017 Saturday ,12 August
16 killed in US air strikes in AfghanistanMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©