Afghanistan Options

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Candidates in Afghanistan Begin Registration for September Elections

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=D32DD7:2F72C9D

Three-week registration period is first step for candidates planning
to compete in September elections

A candidate for parliamentary elections fills in the application form
as another waits for his turn in KabulCandidates for Afghanistan's
local councils and national parliament have begun registering for the
races.

The three-week registration period is the first step for candidates
planning to compete in September's elections.

U.N. election coordinators say nearly 10,000 candidates and more than
60 political parties are expected to participate.

Richard Atwood chairs the joint U.N.-Afghan election committee.

"We're pleased that the first morning of candidate nomination has run
relatively smoothly in all 34 provinces," Mr. Atwood said.

According to the registration rules, candidates have to be Afghan
citizens and provide signatures from at least 300 voters supporting
their application.

People running for the national parliament also have to provide
statements promising they have no links to any illegal militias.

Mr. Atwood says a number of women have already registered for the
parliamentary elections. Of the 249 seats he says, 68 have been
officially set aside for female candidates.

The elections are widely regarded as a key step towards full democracy
for Afghanistan. Since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001, a
new constitution has been adopted, followed by first ever-presidential
elections last October.

Security is a key concern as the election season gets under way.

The voting was originally scheduled for last October during the
presidential election, but poor organization and threats from Taliban
and Al-Qaida linked rebel groups forced an 11-month delay.

Lieutenant General David Barno, commander of the U.S.-led coalition in
Afghanistan, says the insurgent forces are weaker now than they were
then, but the threat remains.

"I expect the enemies are looking to stage some type of high
visibility attack - some spectacular media event here in the next six
to nine months and, as I would put it, 'get them back on the
scoreboard'," said General Barno.

U.S. and NATO military forces in the country are expected to increase
their troop strength leading up to September's elections, to help
guard against attacks.

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85 Men Are Determined Harmless and Freed From U.S. Jails in Afghanistan
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From Associated Press

May 2 2005

KABUL, Afghanistan; The U.S. military released 85 Afghans from its jails in Afghanistan on Sunday after deciding they posed no threat and hearing them swear loyalty to the government.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...headlines-world

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Illegal Arms Cache Blows Up in Northern Afghanistan, Killing 28
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An official says local warlords probably have dozens of such weapons depots in the area.

By Halima Kazem
Special to The Times

May 3 2005

KABUL, Afghanistan; An illicit weapons cache exploded Monday in a village in northern Afghanistan, killing 28 people and injuring more than 13.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...0,6802299.story

[Snuffysmith]

http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?Stor...02-092415-6971r

Analysis: Other extremists pick up al-Qaida ideology
Anwar Iqbal

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Blast at Afghan Warlord's Home Kills 26
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By TOMAS MUNITA
Associated Press Writer

May 2 2005, 5:40 PM PDT

BASHGAH, Afghanistan -- A warlord's stockpile of explosives detonated in a remote Afghan village Monday, flattening a half dozen houses and a mosque and killing at least 26 people in what appeared to be the deadliest accident of its kind since the ouster of the Taliban regime.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...opinternational

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Afghan girls kick down old barriers
More young women discover that the steep path to social equality can
start with sports. By Ben Arnoldy
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0504/p01s03-wosc.html?s=hns

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http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/s...sp?story=636840

Kabul blast signals return of forgotten Taliban insurgency

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12 rebels killed in operation in eastern Afghanistan :

About twelve rebels were killed in eastern Afghanistan when US Marines tracked down a group of insurgents there, coalition said on Monday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-05/...ent_2934914.htm

http://snipurl.com/erlh

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US marines killed in Afghanistan :

Two U.S. Marines were killed May 8 northwest of Jalalabad, in Laghman Province, in an engagement with approximately 25 suspected Taliban.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-05/...ent_2933723.htm

http://snipurl.com/erlj

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Taliban official turned U.S. spy faces prosecution:

Zadran, 53, had avoided prison in a federal smuggling case by turning FBI informant. For three years, he offered intelligence on the Taliban's hierarchy and terrorist operations in Afghanistan even as he served as the regime's U.S. representative.
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/new...al/11592391.htm

http://snipurl.com/erlk

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Afghanistan Offers Amnesty to Wanted Taliban Rebels:

The head of Afghanistan's peace and reconciliation commission held out an amnesty today for all rebels fighting American and government forces, including the most wanted men, the Taliban leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar,
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8793.htm

http://snipurl.com/esj6

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Afghanistan: Karzai Confirms Amnesty Offer Is For All Willing Afghans
http://snipurl.com/eskt

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Taliban radio back on the air :

The opening statement of the broadcast in Pashtu told listeners that "Sharia Zhagh radio raises the voice of the Islamic brotherhood against the superpower, United States of America
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/GE11Ag01.html

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Anti-US protests in Afghanistan leave four dead:

A least four people have been killed in Afghanistan during a protest sparked by reports that US soldiers have been desecrating the Koran.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1366552.htm

http://snipurl.com/etjy

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Two Killed, Dozens Hurt in Afghan Protest :

Afghan police and U.S. troops opened fire to control hundreds of rioting students Wednesday angered at alleged abuse of the Quran at the U.S. jail in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, killing two protesters and injuring 40, officials said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/stor...4997591,00.html

http://snipurl.com/etjz

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Anti-US Demonstrations Spread in Afghanistan :

Thousands of students gathered for an anti-US rally in the Afghanistan city of Jalalabad earlier today.
http://www.zaman.com/?bl=hotnews&hn=19395

http://snipurl.com/etk1

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Pakistan summons Afghan envoy over Jalalabad consulate attack:

Hundreds of Afghans, protesting against the desecration of Holy Qur'an by US military personnel at the US detention center in Guantanamo Bay of Cuban Island, attacked and burnt the Pakistani Consulate, reports said.
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0...11207181104.htm

http://snipurl.com/etk2

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Taleban leader 'rejects amnesty' :

"We don't need any guarantee of safety," Taleban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi told the Reuters news agency.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4533051.stm

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Anti-U.S. Violence Erupts in Afghanistan

By Musadeq Sadeq

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, May 11 -- Shouting "Death to America!" more than 1,000 demonstrators rioted and threw stones at a U.S. military convoy Wednesday, as protests spread over a report that interrogators desecrated Islam's holy book at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...er=emailarticle

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http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/internat...059&partner=AOL

Afghan Protest Against the US Becomes Violent
Carlotta Gall