Military

DATE=07/06/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-317277

BYLINE=MICHAEL KITCHEN

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

HEADLINE: Afghan's Parliamentary Election May Face Delay

INTRO: After a series of delays, officials in Afghanistan say they will soon announce a date for the country's first free elections in almost two decades. But as VOA's Michael Kitchen reports from Islamabad, the possibility of holding back on the parliamentary portion is being debated.

TEXT: A spokesman for Afghan transitional President Hamid Karzai says a final date for the presidential election will probably be announced by Wednesday.

Elections for Afghanistan's post-war president and parliament were originally slated for last June, but were delayed until September due in part to security problems.

Afghanistan still suffers from an armed insurgency by remnants of the country's former Taleban regime, some of whom have attacked election workers as they register voters.

Under a recently passed Afghan law, the election commission must announce the election date at least 90 days in advance, making October the earliest possible time.

Officials with the transitional government and the United Nations, which is assisting with elections, say the vote should be held before mid-October, when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins.

But the presidential spokesman, Javid Ludden, says that while he believes the presidential election can take place in early October, the vote for a new parliament may have to wait.

He says the United Nations is backing a plan to delay parliamentary elections, citing logistical concerns.

/// LUDDEN ACT ///

"The U.N. has come up with suggestions that it may not be possible to hold the two elections at the same time. . They still need to look at the state of the preparations."

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Some Afghan politicians also support holding a separate, delayed parliamentary election.

Abdul-Hakim Noorzai is deputy chairman of the centrist Afghan National Unity Movement party. He says if the country rushes to hold parliamentary and local elections, the likely winners will be the powerful local militia commanders some describe as warlords.

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"We will have a parliament of the warlords. The president will not be able to rule. There will be a lot of problems for Afghanistan."

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Mr. Noozai says his party supports an October presidential election, but is urging a delay in the parliamentary round until after the winter. He says this will allow more time for the political parties, including his, to prepare. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/MK/MH/KBK