December 23, 2001	Sunday	Shawwal 7, 1422

KABUL, Dec 22: Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi hailed Saturday’s impending swearing-in of a new interim government in Kabul as a “great day” for Afghanistan and the entire Islamic world.

“Today is a great day, not only for the Afghan people but for all the region and the Islamic world,” Kharazi said.

“Today the Afghan nation is free,” he added, drawing loud shouts of “Allah-u-Akbar” or “God is great” from those assembled at the interior ministry.

Kharzai welcomed the departure of the Taliban regime’s version of Islam which earned condemnation across the world.

“The Taliban showed a bad face of Islam to the world. Today we want to clean this face,” he said.

The minister noted that despite the peaceful transition of power, Afghanistan faced a long and difficult rebuilding task after more than two decades of conflict.

“Islamic countries will support you and Iran as your great neighbour will help you as it did within the long years of fighting,” he said.—AFP