Afghan parliamentary polls to be held on September 18

KABUL - Afghanistan`s long-delayed parliamentary elections will be held on September 18, head of the Afghan election commission Bismillah Bismil said Sunday.
"The Joint Electoral Management Body is pleased to announce that elections for the Wolesi Jirga and provincial councils will be held on Sunday, September 18 2005," he told reporters at a press conference in Kabul
The parliamentary vote, was originally scheduled for June 2004 alongside Afghanistan`s first presidential election, but both ballots were delayed because of security and logistical problems with the presidential vote finally taking place October 9.
Voters will elect the 249-seat parliament or Wolesi Jirga and provincial councils on September 18, but district council elections will be further delayed due to "technical reasons," Bismil added.

03/20/2005 12:03 GMT