02 March 2004	Tuesday	10 Muharram 1425

KABUL, March 1: Technical issues, and not security, were the biggest obstacles to holding Afghanistan's elections this June, the commander of the US-led coalition force in the country told state media on Monday.

"The challenges that we are facing to hold elections are technical rather than security problems," US Lieutenant General David Barno told Bakhtar news agency.

"We are in close contact with the UN and we hope that with the establishment of new registration sites throughout the country that problem will be resolved."

Authorities plan to open two voter registration sites, one for men and one for women.

Whether presidential or parliamentary elections will be held this summer has not been decided with insurgents threatening to disrupt the polls.

After more than two decades of war, Afghanistan also lacks electoral laws, lists and boundaries and trained staff to conduct the polling.

On a proposed Afghan National Guard, Barno said the force would number some 5,000 to 6,000 men picked from existing militia forces under the control of the ministry of defence.

Gen Barno also ruled out reports that Osama bin Laden had been captured. "Our forces are after them - Osama, Mullah Omar, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Al-Zawahiri," he said. "However, our job will not be finished with their capture."-AFP