Afghanistan to hold parliamentary elections in May

The chief officer of Afghanistan's election commission said today a parliamentary vote will be held in May despite widespread international concern that the country's electoral system needs serious reform.

Ali Najafi said the vote will be held on May 22.

However, he said Afghanistan needs about USD50 million from the international community to meet the election's estimated budget of USD120 million. It was not clear whether the vote would or could be held if donor countries don't provide the money.

In the wake of last August's heavily disputed presidential election, many critics have pushed president Hamid Karzai and his government to delay the parliamentary vote. Karzai has insisted the constitution, which specifies the elections be held by May, must be observed.

A US Congressional delegation that met with Karzai in Kabul last week said it had warned the president that holding the election without first enacting substantive electoral reform could undermine support for US aid to the country.

Also today, Karzai visited the southern province of Helmand to express condolences to relatives of civilians allegedly killed in an airstrike.

Helmand provincial governor spokesman Dawud Ahmadi, who confirmed the president's visit to the town of Lashkar Gah, said an attack by international forces on Wednesday killed seven civilians and two Taliban insurgents.