Afghan Grand Council Meeting Delayed

U.S. special envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, blamed the delay on erroneous reports that the former Afghan king, Mohammad Zaher Shah, planned to play a major role in the new government.

Zaher Shah returned to Afghanistan in April when the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance toppled the Taliban government and established a temporary government led by interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai. Zaher Shah had spent 29 years of exile in Italy.

The leaders of the Northern Alliance have opposed any role for the former king in the government. But the dominant ethnic Pashtuns, largely from central and southern Afghanistan, are hoping the 87-year old former king will take a lead role in unifying the divided country.

Karzai, who has enjoyed the support of the Northern Alliance, met with the former king late last night to resolve the political rift and appease the leaders of the alliance.

The former king today released a prepared statement to dispel any confusion over his role in the new government.

“I have no intention of restoring the monarchy,” the statement said. “I am not a candidate for any position in the loya jirga.”

Zaher Shah also declared he would nominate Hamid Karzai to head the new government.

Barring further delays, the former monarch is slated to open the first meeting of the loya jirga assembly Tuesday. The grand council will select a new transitional government 18 months ahead of general elections.

Roughly 1,500 elected delegates will participate in the assembly, held in the Afghan capital of Kabul, over the next six days.

But, an additional 500 Afghans hoping to participate in the tribal council unexpectedly arrived Monday, causing major logistical problems, a spokesman for the loya jirga commission said.

The commission said the opening assembly was postponed so that it could draft a new list of delegates.

“We are drawing up a final list of delegates who can vote,” a spokesman told Reuters. “That is what we’re working on. We are making up a list and that list will not be 1,700. It will be less.”