Rangin Dadfar Spanta (file photo) (NATO)
May 21, 2007 -- The UN today called on Afghanistan's government to resolve a constitutional dispute that has spawned questions about Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta's status.
Afghanistan's parliament voted earlier this month to dismiss Spanta for failing to convince Iran to rethink a forced repatriation of illegal Afghan refugees.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai countered that he would keep Spanta in office until he received clarification from the Supreme Court about the legislature's right to vote to dismiss Spanta.
UN spokesman Adrian Edwards said the UN's view is that under Afghanistan's constitution, only Karzai can dismiss ministers.
(AFP)
RFE/RL Afghanistan Report
RFE/RL Afghanistan Report
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