Tuesday, August 23, 2011 – In response to Independent Election Commission decision to unseat nine Afghan parliament members, hundreds of Afghans on Tuesday marched though Kabul to protest against the decision.
Around 700 Afghans came on streets of Kabul and condemned the United Nations, accusing its mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, of interference.
The crowd was marching towards the presidential palace and the main UN compound and were shouting, ‘Death to UNAMA which supported this evil process,’ and ‘Death to those who oppose democracy.’
This comes as the UN mission welcomed Sunday’s decision by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to dismiss nine lawmakers after last September’s parliamentary election, saying a ‘long institutional impasse’ had come to an end.
The Un said, ‘The real work must now begin.’
The UN also called on Afghan politicians and officials to work for ‘peace, progress and prosperity’ in their country.
Independent Election Commission announced its final decision after President Hamid Karzai handed over the authority to resolve the nearly year-long election impasse.
Tensions between the Afghan government and the Afghan parliament escalated after a special election tribunal backed by Karzai ruled that 62 lawmakers, a quarter of lower house of parliament, should be expelled.
The parliamentary election issue is highly controversial in Afghanistan and has prompted a string of angry protests on the streets of Kabul by supporters of rival politicians in recent months.
