Kabul: Newly elected Afghan lawmakers are
having intense talks with President Hamid Karzai over his
decision to delay the opening of parliament for a month so
allegations of election fraud can be further investigated.
Two lawmakers involved in today's talks, which are
still under way at the presidential palace, say no resolution
to the political crisis is in sight.
Fawzai Kafi and Ali Akbar Qasimi say the lawmakers
aren't backing away from their plan to open the parliament on Saturday, with or without Karzai's blessing.
They say Karzai isn't backing down either and is still
trying to get the lawmakers to embrace the delay.
It is generally believed that Karzai is unhappy with
the election results and thinks fraud reduced voter turnout
among his fellow ethnic Pashtuns.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 22, 2011, 22:10