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The Afghan government released 80 of the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners Thursday, paving the way for long-stalled peace negotiations after nearly two decades of bitter and violent conflict in the country. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani got the go-ahead from the consultative assembly Loya Jirga, which sanctioned the release of prisoners in an effort to speed up talks in the war-torn nation. Some of the prisoners have been implicated in devastating bombings in the capital Kabul.

(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai called Wednesday on elders assembled for a national conference to help create a fair framework for relations with the U.S. and find a path to peace for the turbulent country. Karzai spoke at the opening of a "loya jirga," or grand council, which will discuss a proposed strategic partnership with the United States that would oversee the American military presence here as troops draw down, as well as possible peace talks with the Taliban. Karzai urged the roughly 2,000 delegates to consider both the need for international help and the need to make...

OPERATION: ENDURING FREEDOM Taliban hunting an American? Opposition leader executed reportedly accompanied by U.S. agent By Toby Westerman © 2001 WorldNetDaily.com At the same time some 1,500 opponents of the Taliban – warriors and holy men – gathered in Peshawar, Pakistan, to lay plans for the next Afghan government, Taliban fighters located and killed one of their most influential opponents – and may be hunting for an American reported to have accompanied him. Abdul Haq, a well-known hero of the anti-Soviet guerrilla war and long-standing opponent of the Taliban, was found south of the Afghan capital, Kabul, captured and then killed, ...

GOTTA SEE THIS - War for Enduring Freedom 1/4/04 - Gusev Crater, Mars, Kabul BREAKING: Gusev Crater, Mars - American technology doing its thing in a far away place. BREAKING: Kabul, Afghanis freed by the USA. New Constitution planted in a far away place. QFN ==== QUAGMIRE-FREE NEWS Exclusive to FReerepublic PICTURES YOU MAY NEVER SEE IN THE GENERAL MEDIA ========= Gusev Crater ========= A panoramic image taken by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft from the surface of Mars, taken after landing January 3, 2004. At Gusev Crater, from the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, a 360...

The large Afghan traditional assembly (Loya Jirga) adopted Sunday the Constitution of the new "Islamic Republic of Afghanistan" which envisages a presidential mode extremely, noted the AFP. "I invite you to pick you up as a sign of approval of the new constitution of the country", declared the president of Loya Jirga Sebghatullah Mujadedi. The totality of the 502 deputy ones then rose, marking thus officially the adoption of the new fundamental law of the country. Joined together since December 14, Loya Jirga adopted a text founder which institutes a presidential mode extremely, in accordance with the wishes of...

Delegates at the Loya Jirga or Grand Assembly are holding talks on a draft constitution for Afghanistan. The blueprint is finally meant to place women on an equal footing in Afghan society. Hardly any other topic has captured the world’s attention as much as the fate of oppressed women under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The Taliban forbade women from working, barred access to education for girls, forced women to appear in public only with the all-enveloping burqa and in the company of a male escort. It’s been a disenfranchised life within the four walls of their home for Afghanistan’s...

Afghan constitutional convention paralysed by deep ethnic split STEPHEN GRAHAM Canadian Press Thursday, January 01, 2004 Afghan loya jirga delegates line up Thursday in Kabul to vote for a new constitution. (AP/Aijaz Rahi) CREDIT: (AP/Aijaz Rahi) ADVERTISEMENT KABUL (AP) - Afghanistan's marathon constitutional convention has been adjourned until Saturday in a desperate bid to reach a consensus amid a boycott by opponents of U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai. The decision, taken Thursday after scores of delegates refused to take part in a vote on several amendments to the draft charter, was the latest setback for the historic gathering, which has already...

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Voting began Thursday in a broadly based assembly of Afghanistan's leaders working to draft a new constitution. Known as a "Loya Jirga," or grand council, 502 men and women from around the country have been debating a proposed 160-article constitution supported by the United States. However, as many as a quarter of the delegates are refusing to vote on five hotly disputed articles of the 160-article draft document, the BBC reported. The five articles cover items like official languages and presidential powers. The draft establishes a strong presidential system with a limited role for...

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jun 12, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- With one contentious issue settled, Afghanistan's grand council got down to work Wednesday amid complaints that foreigners, warlords and political cliques had hijacked the selection process for a new government. Interim leader Hamid Karzai appeared set to become head of state on the second day of the loya jirga, or grand council, but it appeared little would get done quickly. The meeting started late, with selection of a chairman to lead the loya jirga convention topping the agenda. Karzai's election as head of state was all but assured when the...

DOZENS OF AFGHAN LOYA JIRGA DELEGATES WALK OUT, SAY ANGRY AT LACK OF FREE VOTE MORE ...

Uncertainty on the election of a head of the State Tuesday June 11, 2002 - 15h12 GMT KABUL, June 11 (AFP) - Afghanistan, which started Tuesday its Loya Jirga, kind of traditional constituent assembly, was not sure to have a head of the State Tuesday evening. At the time of a difficult explanation of text, at the end of the inaugural session, the president of the commission of organization of Loya Jirga, Mohammad Ismael Qasimyar, said at the same time that Hamid Karzaï "had been confirmed" at its station "in an adequate way", and that work of Wednesday could...

Loya Jirga will be probably again pushed back Tuesday June 11, 2002 - 8h29 GMT KABUL, June 11 (AFP) - the opening envisaged Tuesday of Loya Jirga, the traditional assembly which must indicate a new government in Afghanistan, will be probably again delayed one day, because of the continuation of the polemic on the role that will have to play former king Mohammed Zaher Shah, said a person in charge to the AFP. "We doubt that it (Loya Jirga) is held today because the partisans of the king are upset by (play) that (the American emissary for Afghanistan Zalmay)...

Role of the former king: threaten of withdrawal of deputy in Loya Jirga Tuesday June 11, 2002 - 6h03 GMT KABUL, June 11 (AFP) - a delegate in Loya Jirga affirmed that "many delegates" threatened to withdraw themselves some as of the opening of the assembly, Tuesday, to protest against the advertisement, according to them which had with American pressures, that former king Zaher Shah would not be candidate at the post of head of the State. The decision of the former monarch announced Monday shocked many of its partisans, declared with the AFP Faizal Ahmad, delegated central province...

GOTTA SEE THIS -- OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 6/10/02 BREAKING NEWS - Theatre 1 -Kabul, Khandahar - Freed Women, Education, Loya Jirga, Soccer, Patrols ========= AFGHANISTAN - OUTSIDE OF KABUL In Zabul province, west of Kabul, an Afghan removes one of the last tree trunks. In western Kabul, houses are destroyed by the decades of fighting. West of Kabul, in Wardak province, water is sought. Near Kabul, at the refugee camp, refugees return from Peshawar, Pakistan. ========= AFGHANISTAN - KABUL In Kabul, at the Pol e Kheshti Mosque prayer on 6/7/02. In Kabul, Afghan moneychangers at market. In Kabul, women sell...

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jun 10, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- The loya jirga, the grand council called to organize a new government and give war-weary Afghans hope for a peaceful future, was in trouble even before it was to begin Monday. The 1,550 delegates, among them 200 women, were to convene Monday morning to begin the task of electing a head of state, deciding the framework of the transitional government and naming ministers to key posts. The new government will lead for 18 months pending elections. Late Sunday, however, diplomatic sources said the opening session had been postponed until...

GOTTA SEE THIS -- OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 6/8/02 BREAKING NEWS - Kabul, Khandahar Update - Weapons found in Atalay village, Loya Jirga, Soccer, Perp update ========= AFGHANISTAN - FREE ELECTIONS FOR THE LOYA JIRGA [Full democracy coming 6/10-15/02] In Kabul, Afghans read about the Loya Jirga process or grand tribal assembly . In Kabul, the floor for the Loya Jirga is prepared. The tent size is 40 meters by 70 meters. In Kabul, the Afghan Loya Jirga assembly tent at the Kabul Polytechnic University. In Kabul, Afghan men choose their representatives Afghanistan's Loya Jirga or grand tribal assembly. In Kandahar,...

Afghanistan's defense minister says the country's interim government is the best choice to lead the nation for two more years. Mohammed Qasim Fahim told reporters in Kabul Saturday, interim leader Hamid Karzai and the rest of the current cabinet would ensure peace and stability. He described Mr. Karzai's government as moderate and capable of maintaining a balance among Afghanistan's feuding ethnic tribes. Mr. Fahim says he will ask a grand council of tribal leaders to retain the current administration when it meets Monday to select a two-year transitional government for the country. However, many Pashtuns - Afghanistan's largest ethnic...

There's no shortage of violence in the process of establishing a new, multi-ethnic governmentBy Ahmed Rashid, Kabul> On March 23 the first, long-awaited step in a genuine political process to choose a new government in Afghanistan after 24 years of war kicks off, with the publishing of the rules and procedures for the loya jirga, or grand tribal council. Millions of Afghan people are placing their future hopes for peace and stability on the meeting of the loya jirga, which former King Zahir Shah will open in June. Rival warlords--including those with posts in the interim government--are also preparing, trying...