More Karzai Nominees Rejected

Afghanistan’s parliament has again rejected most of President Hamid Karzai’s cabinet nominees, a setback for Karzai, who hoped to have a full cabinet in place for a crucial donor conference in London later this month. Just 14 of Karzai’s 24 ministers have been confirmed, though those 14 represent the most powerful ones in charge of foreign policy, national defense, and the interior. The parliament’s vote comes only two weeks after it rejected 17 of the Afghan leader’s first choices for the positions, a blow to his authority—which had been damaged by accusations of fraud in last fall’s elections. Three women were nominated this time, but only one was approved. Members of parliament said the vote showed young democracy in action.