Afghanistan's grand assembly erupted in uproar yesterday after scuffles broke out among delegates following speeches denouncing Pakistan and supporters of former king Mohammad Zahir Shah.
The chairman of the Loya Jirga, Ismael Qasimyar, switched off the microphone and pleaded for calm.
"Please speak calmly and avoid provocative issues. Try to speak only of the problems of the country," he said.
The grand assembly, which elected Hamid Karzai the country's president on Thursday, is trying to agree on the make-up of the Cabinet. But Loya Jirga delegates, more than 1,500 of them, are intent on making individual speeches and this is delaying a decision on the Cabinet.
One deputy launched a scathing assault on neighboring Pakistan for its support of the hardline Taliban, ousted from power last year. Islamabad later switched sides and backed a US-led military campaign to topple the Taliban.
"Our nation was submerged in blood for almost a decade because of Pakistan's interference," the delegate said.
Afghan leaders have said they hold no grudges against Pakistan and want good relations with all their neighbors.
Another deputy began his speech denouncing the monarchists around Zahir Shah. "Some groups under the name of the former king are trying to contaminate the atmosphere of the Loya Jirga," he said.
Zahir Shah stirred a controversy after he said earlier this week he would not seek political office.
Delegates to the assembly insist they have the right to approve members of a broad-based government, but supporters of the 44-year-old, Western-educated Karzai say he must make the final decision.
Karzai, elected in a secret ballot with 85 percent of the delegates' votes on Thursday, has been engaged in intense behind-the-scene bargaining with leaders of various ethnic groups to forge a multi-ethnic Cabinet acceptable to all.
The new government will run the country for 18 months before general elections are held.
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