http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=2433422005
Tue 20 Dec 2005 Afghanistan 'regains its honour' SAYED SALAHUDDIN IN KABUL FORMER warlords, reformed communists, Taleban defectors and women activists were sworn in yesterday as members of the first Afghan parliament in more than 30 years. The inauguration was peaceful, despite threats by Taleban guerrillas, and was greeted with tears of emotion. "This meeting is a sign of us regaining our honour," said Hamid Karzai, the president, after swearing in the 351 members of the lower and upper houses. "This homeland will exist for ever," he declared, prompting tears from many delegates. Mr Karzai urged national reconciliation after almost three decades of warfare and reiterated a call to the Taleban to abandon its insurgency, which has intensified in the past year. Parliament has to endorse Mr Karzai's ministers, but government officials said he was already considering reshuffling his cabinet and cutting the number of ministries. The officials said the reshuffle would affect at least two ministries, including foreign affairs. Abdul Rahim Wardak, the defence minister, confirmed the plan. Analysts say Mr Karzai appears to have enough support in parliament to avoid major problems, but could face difficulties with appointments, given disappointment at his administration's failure to improve people's lives and carry out crucial reforms. The inauguration was the culmination of the UN-backed plan to bring democracy to Afghanistan, drawn up after US-led forces overthrew the Taleban in 2001. "It means a lot," Mr Karzai said. "It means progress, it means achievement, it means togetherness." Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, who attended the inauguration after a visit to Iraq, called it a "historic day" and said his country is committed to supporting Afghanistan for the long term. Security was tight after a Taleban suicide attack near parliament on Friday and a promise by the guerrillas for more attacks on "a symbol of American occupation". Zahir Shah, the former king, who was overthrown in 1973 by his cousin Daud Khan, who dissolved the last parliament, delivered the first speech to the new one. "I thank God that today I am participating in a ceremony that is a step towards rebuilding Afghanistan," said the frail 91-year-old. "The people of Afghanistan will succeed." Shukria Barakzai, one of two women among more than a dozen MPs bidding to head the lower house, called it a "momentous day". Sixty-eight lower house seats were reserved for women, but critics have doubts about parliament's overall composition. Human Rights Watch says up to 60 per cent of deputies are warlords or their proxies, boding ill for efforts to account for abuses and to stamp out a massive drugs trade. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back! http://us.click.yahoo.com/g0CDCD/tzNLAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
