June 24, 2002	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 12, 1423

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KABUL, June 23: Afghanistan’s powerful former interior minister Yunus Qanooni said on Sunday he had still to decide whether to accept the post of education minister, despite an official announcement that he had taken the job.

“I spent... three days considering my participation in government,” Qanooni told reporters here. “I have heard that Karzai wants to give me the education ministry. I am still doing consultations. I have not yet decided.

“What was announced contradicts what was agreed upon,” he added.

Karzai had hoped to persuade Qanooni, a political heavyweight of the powerful Shura-i-Nazar faction of the Northern Alliance, to accept the job by also making him special advisor on national security.

Qanooni’s appointment was announced on state television on Saturday night along with the names of 14 other ministers appointed to Karzai’s new transitional administration, bringing the total number of cabinet posts to 28.—AFP