December 10, 2001	Monday	Ramazan 24, 1422

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CHAMAN, Dec 9: A tribal Jirga (Shoora) on Sunday appointed Gul Agha Governor of Kandahar, while former Mujahideen commander Mulla Naqibullah has been assigned to look after the administrative affairs.

The Jirga, which was presided over by interim Afghan prime minister Hamid Karzai, discussed various issues including the law and order situation in view of the Taliban surrender and took important decisions in this regard.

The jirga, which was attended by all the important commanders and elders of different tribes, decided that Gul Agha would remain the Governor of Kandahar till a stable government is established in Kabul, Hamid Karzai told Dawn by telephone from Kandahar.

He said the Jirga also decided that former Mujahideen commander Mulla Naqibullah would be the head of the Kandahar administration and he would extend all help and cooperation to Gul Agha.

The Jirga also appointed Hameed Toghi Governor of Zabul province. The meeting further decided to release all political and war prisoners arrested by the Taliban during their over five-year rule.

The elders council also discussed different issues including the law and order situation, and took important decisions in this regard. The interim Afghan prime minister, who would assume charge on Dec 22, took serious notice of checkpoints established between Weish and Kandahar and directed the tribal commanders to abolish all unnecessary checkpoints immediately.

He said these checkpoints would create hurdle in smooth flow of traffic between Spin Boldak and Kandahar.

“All such checkpoints must be removed without any delay,” the Afghan interim prime minister asked the tribal commanders.

He called upon the members of the Jirga to make allout efforts for the restoration of peace in the country as without establishing peace a strong and stable government could not be formed in Afghanistan.

He also directed the commanders and people to make efforts for the arrest of Osama bin Laden, Mulla Omar and members of Al-Qaeda organization.

Amanullah Ghilzai adds from London: The risk of factional fighting in Kandahar was averted on Sunday following timely intervention by the newly-appointed head of the Afghan administration, Mr Hamid Karzai, who appointed Gul Agha Sherzai governor of the city.

In an interview with the BBC, Hamid Karzai said the decision was taken at a meeting of tribal elders and ulema held at the house of Mulla Omar in Kandahar.

He said Gul Agha would be responsible for general administration and the law and order of Kandahar and Mulla Naqibullah had pledged to extend full cooperation to the new administration.

Mr Karzai said the present administration of Kandahar would continue functioning until his government in Kabul made some changes.

Mr Karzai said Kandahar was fully peaceful and he with his men could roam the city without any armed escort.

The forces of Gul Agha, the former governor of Kandahar, and Mulla Naqibullah had entered Kandahar following the surrender of the Taliban. The armed men from the two sides took control of the city and launched a battle for its control. In the initial clashes several people were reportedly killed.

Agencies add: Osama bin Laden was said to be leading 1,000 men in defence of his mountain hideouts in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday as tribesmen seemed to settle differences over the former Taliban bastion of Kandahar.

Under US bombardment and pressured by local Afghans, the Saudi-born fugitive and his Al-Qaeda fighters looked ever more isolated in the Tora Bora region after their Taliban protectors were said by the Afghan Islamic Press to have handed over Zabul, the last province under their control.