PULI ALAM, AFGHANISTAN // A bomb hidden in a microphone killed an Afghan provincial governor yesterday as he made a speech at a mosque after Eid prayers.
Arsala Jamal was appointed by the president Hamid Karzai, like all 34 provincial governors, and he was seen as a close ally of the president, who will leave office next year.
“The governor wanted to speak and congratulate everyone on the occasion of Eid. At least 18 other people have been wounded, including civilians and government employees,” the Logar provincial governor spokesman Din Mohammad Darwish said.
Jamal only took up the Logar job in April after serving as governor of Khost, on the border with Pakistan.
Logar, which lies to the south of the Afghan capital, is seen as a strategic region, often described as a “gateway to Kabul” for Taliban militants based in strongholds across the south and east.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast, though Taliban militants often target provincial government officials as well as Afghan soldiers and police.
Mohammad Jan Abid, the head of the criminal investigative department in Logar, said an investigation would be launched.
Security in Logar has deteriorated in recent years with the Taliban holding sway in some areas despite sustained Afghan and US military pressure.
The Taliban have vowed to step up attacks as Afghanistan prepares for presidential elections in April and the withdrawal of 87,000 Nato troops by the end of next year.
Taliban chief Mullah Omar on Sunday said he “rejected” the elections, which he alleged were being manipulated by foreign powers, and called on Afghans not to participate.
The Taliban regime was driven from power by a US-led coalition in 2001 for sheltering the Al Qaeda leaders behind the September 11 attacks.
The US and Afghanistan are currently in the last stages of talks on a Bilateral Security Agreement that would see several thousand US troops remain in the country to aid stability and continue training of Afghan security forces.
Omar warned any US bases remaining on Afghan soil “will never be accepted” and that “armed jihad will continue against them with more momentum”.
* Agence France-Presse
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Install an air filter in your home.
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Shower or bath after being outside.
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Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
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Thursday, February 8 v Kenya; Friday, February 9 v Canada; Sunday, February 11 v Nepal; Monday, February 12 v Oman; Wednesday, February 14 v Namibia; Thursday, February 15 final
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Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
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Messi at the Copa America
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2015 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
2016 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
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Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.