Commission to appoint interim government formed

In another step towards the formation of a government, Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai announced the composition of a 21-member Special Independence Commission at a joint press conference with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday. The commission will be responsible for convening a 'Loya Jirga' or grand council that will in turn appoint a two-year transitional government for Afghanistan. "This is a real impartial commission," said Karzai, who was speaking from Kabul where he was hosting a visit by Kofi Annan. Karzai said the composition of the Loya Jirga had been agreed in conjunction with the UN from a list of 300 people, which his administration had initially provided. The commission will be headed by Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar, a noted Afghan jurist, and will organise the calling of the Loya Jirga in six months time. The commission is considered crucial to the future of the country and the Secretary General said the UN had asked them to work in the larger interest of Afghanistan. "This is a group of men and women who are highly respected within the society," Annan said. "I know not everybody will be entirely happy but it’s a good list," he said. Annan was visiting Kabul as part of a three-nation tour. He met the leaders of the interim authority and expressed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. Later on Friday he flew to Iran for talks with leaders in the capital Tehran.