KABUL, June 9: The start of Afghanistan’s Loya Jirga, which is due to select a new transitional government, has been held over until Monday afternoon, the United Nations announced.

“We have just been informed that the Loya Jirga will be convened on Monday at 3pm (1030 GMT),” said a brief press release delivered here on Sunday.

It had been expected that the traditional grand assembly would begin its deliberations about 10:00am local time on Monday but no firm starting time had previously been announced.

Former king Mohammed Zahir Shah is due to inaugurate the assembly, which is scheduled to last for seven days.

Some 1,551 delegates, who have been chosen through a two-staged process of direct and indirect elections, will meet in a giant marquee on the site of Kabul Polytechnic.—AFP