Afghan leader extends parliament's term, promises election date

 With elections delayed by political squabbling, Afghanistan`s president issued a decree on Friday extending parliament`s mandate until a vote could be held.

Kabul: With elections delayed by political squabbling, Afghanistan`s president issued a decree on Friday extending parliament`s mandate until a vote could be held.

Parliament`s five-year term was set to expire on June 22, but elections scheduled for April were postponed because of security fears and disagreement on how to ensure a fair vote after a bitterly disputed presidential election last year.

President Ashraf Ghani`s office said the decision to let the existing parliament stay on had been taken in consultation with the judiciary, the legislative and the executive, and a new election date would be announced in a month.

Both Ghani and rival Abdullah Abdullah claimed victory after last year`s presidential vote was marred by accusations of widespread fraud on both sides. It took months for them to agree to a US-brokered deal to form a unity government with Ghani as president and Abdullah as chief executive.

Under the deal, electoral reforms were a condition for holding future votes, but little progress has been made because rivals in government disagree over who should lead the reform commission.

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