Afghanistan To Postpone Parliamentary Elections

Last year's presidential election was marred with allegations of fraud

Officials in Kabul say Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission will postpone this year's parliamentary elections from May 22 to a new date in September.

A formal anouncement of the delay is expected from the commission later today. The officials say the reason for the delay is that the commission does not yet have the $120 million needed to stage the vote.

Western backers of President Hamid Karzai are expected to be pleased at the move. They want time for reforms in the electoral process before the election to help prevent a repeat of fraud that marred Karzai's own election last year. T

The new date selected for the parliamentary vote is said to be September 18.

compiled from agency reports