AFGHANISTAN: The Afghan President, Mr Hamid Karzai, told the Loya Jirga he would delay naming his cabinet by one day, until today at 5 p.m. but had yet to decide on the number of posts.
President Karzai, elected in a landslide by the Loya Jirga last week, also said he would move forward the date for his inauguration ceremony to today, from the scheduled June 22nd.
"Please allow me one more day," he said. "You go out and have a rest until 5 o'clock (p.m.) tomorrow," Mr Karzai told the grand assembly.
"We want a healthy cabinet which is acceptable to the people and we want to exercise care. It is good for you and it is good for us. We will deal with all the issues tomorrow at five. It is good to think more about it because we are dealing with the destiny of the people," he added.
He had been expected to announce his cabinet yesterday, but said that there had been a lot of discussion, he had had to see former king Mohammad Zahir Shah and he had yet to decide on the number of posts, which would be around 30.
The Loya Jirga had recessed to discuss plans for a new parliament. Mr Karzai, wearing his trademark lamb-skin hat and a Western jacket, said whatever parliament plan the Loya Jirga decided on would be acceptable to him.
"I am looking for a cabinet which is representative of all people, made up of efficient and professional ministers," Mr Karzai said. "Fortunately, we have many professionals in this country, but few cabinet posts. I should either increase the size of the cabinet or cut down on the number of professionals," he said to the laughter of a full house.
Delegates had mixed reactions after Mr Karzai's speech. While some backed his decision to delay the announcement, others said the president was "wasting time".
"Karzai is under a lot of pressure from the United States, the Northern Alliance and now he is being held responsible for the delays by the Loya Jirga," said a close relative of Mr Karzai. "He has to please everybody, otherwise there will be a critical situation," he said.
Mr Karzai's interim government is dominated by the Northern Alliance, whose forces drove the Taliban from power last year with US air support. But the president has been pressured by his fellow Pashtuns to make his next government more balanced. He asked the assembly if he could make his decision on the cabinet after the end of the Loya Jirga, but many delegates shouted "no".
At least two rockets exploded in suburbs near the US embassy in Kabul yesterday but there were no casualties. It was not clear if the embassy was the target, an aide to the Defence Minister, Mr Mohammad Fahim, said. Nor was it clear who fired them, he said.