Afghan Factions Agree on Interim Govt

Dec. 5, 2001 -- Negotiators for four Afghan factions picked their interim leader today and set into motion a mechanism they hope will lead their nation in a peaceful transition to a more permanent government.

Anti-Taliban commander Hamid Karzai, an ethnic Pashtun, has been named head of the interim administration. He will run a temporary administration for six months.

That administration would then give way to one selected by a traditional tribal council convened by the former king.

"I am glad that my Afghan countrymen put their trust in me and I am honored that they trust me for this job," Karzai told ABCNEWS by satellite telephone, but added that he had not been formally told of the decision.

"I only know this through the media," he said. "I have not been informed by my Afghan countrymen yet."

Karzai, 46, is currently leading troops in the battle outside Kandahar, the Taliban's last stronghold in Afghanistan. He was injured today when a U.S. B-52 dropped a 2,000-pound satellite-guided bomb, or JDAM, about 100 yards from friendly forces north of Kandahar. The accident killed five Afghan anti-Taliban soldiers and three Americans, but Karzai's injuries were not believed to be serious.

Karzai was widely recognized as Washington's pick for the job. In making the case for him earlier, a senior U.S. diplomat noted that he is not an exile, like many of the other leading candidates, and has actually been on the ground in Afghanistan since October.

No Role for Rabbani

So far, no role has been specified for Northern Alliance leader Burhanuddin Rabbani, who is still recognized as the Afghan president by the United Nations, which never recognized the Taliban regime.

U.N. special envoy Lakdhar Brahimi is expected to travel to Kabul, the Afghan capital, to consult with Rabbani about the transfer of power. On the way, Brahimi may stop in Rome for talks withthe former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah.

Karzai told ABCNEWS he did not foresee any problems with the transfer of power.

"We are all Afghans and this is just an interim government," he said. "We should work now for a loya jirga [tribal council] and a permanent government."

Karzai, a supporter of the former king, served as foreign minister in the post-Soviet government that was ultimately deposed by the Taliban militia.

A Representative Government

The four factions — representing the Northern Alliance, the former king, and two small exile groups — have been meeting in Koenigswinter, near the German city of Bonn, for nine days to discuss interim and long-term plans for an Afghan government.

They sought an interim government representative of Afghanistan's many ethnic groups, including the major Pashtun population and the Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara minorities.

They ultimately agreed on an interim administration in which the Northern Alliance holds more than half of the 30 ministries. Among the most prominent ministries given to the Northern Alliance are defense, to be held by Mohammad Fahim; foreign, Abdullah Abdullah; and interior, Younous Qanooni.

The faction representing the former king was awarded at least eight ministries, including finance, education and reconstruction.

The new government is also expected to include at least two women, including a vice chairwoman, Sima Samar, who will be minister of women's affairs.

A Tajik woman named Suhaila Seddiqi will be the new minister of public health. In addition, the delegates agreed on the need to establish a "gender-sensitive" government and that "a significant number of women" take part in the upcoming loya jirga.

The documents signed today also re-establishes the 1964 Afghan constitution that many cite as a watershed for women's rights.

The transfer of power is set to begin Dec. 22. ABCNEWS' Bob Woodruff contributed to this report.