Afghanistan's long-awaited Loya Jirga tribal assembly wound up its first meeting today with the interim leader Hamid Karzai saying the assembly voted him the country's president while the powerful interior minister offered to resign.
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Mr Hamid Karzai
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Many delegates streaming out of the tent that is housing the Loya Jirga expressed anger that Karzai was anointed without a vote, with no consultation and no other candidates allowed to speak.
The Loya Jirga, tasked with choosing a new government to run the war-torn country for the next 18 months, had been delayed for a day because of bickering among tribal factions over the role of former King Mohammad Zahir Shah.
The 87-year-old former monarch, a member of the majority Pashtun community, yesterday said he would not stand for office and backed Karzai, also a Pashtun, in a move seen as trying to defuse some of the tensions between Pashtuns and powerful northern minorities.
Interior Minister Yunis Qanuni offered his resignation, which also appeared to be aimed at soothing political tensions and sources said Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah was also likely to resign.
"I want to get the trust of the people and ensure national unity. I would like to resign from my position and propose Mr. Karzai appoint anyone who is good for the job," Qanuni said.
The former king Mohammad Zahir Shah said he had no desire to restore the monarchy and told the 1,550 member assembly he backed Karzai as leader.
"I am ready to help the people, and Hamid Karzai is my choice of candidate," Zahir Shah said in comments aimed at showing unity to a divided assembly.
"I advise delegates to take into consideration the high interests of the people," he said, adding national unity and democracy based on Islamic values were his ideals.
Karzai, wearing a turban and traditional dress and switching between Pashto and Persian, said he wanted to rid the country of ‘warlordism’ and improve education.
He said he wanted several roles for Zahir Shah as a father to the country, such as participating in national and religious functions, opening the National Council (parliament) and conferring medals and that he would live at his residence inside the presidential palace.