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Leader Of Afghan Upper House Resigns In Protest

KABUL, October 12, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The president of Afghanistan's upper house of parliament, Sebghatullah Mujadidi, announced his resignation today to protest "undesirable people" within the Afghan government, according to RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan.

Mujadidi said the central government in Kabul has ignored his recommendations on ministerial appointments.

"They did not listen to what I had said," he said. "They have put many undesirable people in higher positions such as ministerial posts. That's why I have decided to resign from the membership of the senate and the presidency of the upper house."

Mujadidi told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan today that he will continue his job as the head of the Afghan Reconciliation Commission. That is a post he has used to negotiate the release of about 500 Afghan detainees who were being held without charge by the U.S. military at Bagram Air Field north of Kabul and at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2006 RFE/RL, Inc.

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/10/15F10516-F2D0-41F7-89F2-04E78F792250.html