Tempers Rise in Afghanistan Before Vote(rejected warlord as running mate

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-karzai27jul27.story

Tempers Rise in Afghanistan Before Vote
Karzai rejects a warlord as running mate, choosing instead the brother of a slain legendary fighter for a vice-presidential post.
By Paul Watson and Wesal Zaman
Special to The Times

July 27, 2004

KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai spurned one of Afghanistan's most powerful warlords Monday, refusing to accept Defense Minister Mohammed Qassim Fahim as one of his two vice presidential running mates in fall elections.

The decision increased tensions between Karzai and Fahim, but the warlord will remain in his post as defense minister, said a senior general in Fahim's Northern Alliance militia force. The general spoke on condition that he not be identified because of the sensitive nature of the political dispute.

Fahim was a key U.S. ally in the 2001 war to topple the Taliban regime and can call on about 50,000 militia fighters, as well as units in the Afghan national army who remain loyal to him. He had expected that the military muscle would assure him a place on Karzai's ticket in the October elections.

But with Washington's support, Karzai, the interim president, is trying to sideline old-guard militia leaders such as Fahim, who has resisted pressure to disarm his fighters, end their intimidation of voters and make way for a unified national army.

Karzai confirmed Monday that he would run for president, and he announced that Ahmed Zia Masoud, the brother of assassinated Northern Alliance commander Ahmed Shah Masoud, would seek election as the first of two vice presidents.<snip>

[hedda_foil]

1. The whole thing is theatre of the absurd, but Masoud is a brilliant pick