Afghanistan will hold a landmark presidential election on October 9th, but parliamentary polls will be delayed until April, an official has confirmed.
Mr Zakim Shah, chairman of the UN-Afghan Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB), made the announcement on state television. He said the parliamentary election would be held in spring, 2005, then specified the month of April.
The US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai hoped to hold both elections in June, but logistical problems and lack of security forced a delay. The Taliban and allied militants have vowed to disrupt what are billed as Afghanistan 's first ever free polls.