KABUL, March 9: Afghanistan's Planning Minister, who has announced he will contest for top presidential slot in the upcoming elections, said on Tuesday that he did not resign from his position but was sacked because of a dispute with President Hamid Karzai and the finance minister.

"I have not resigned but I was sacked," Haji Mohammed Mohaqiq told a news conference in Kabul. However, a spokesman for Karzai said that the way that Mohaqiq had left a Sunday cabinet meeting was considered as his resignation.

"The minister told the session, "I will leave the cabinet, there is no place for me'," Jawad Ludin said. So far three people have said they will stand for president in the elections scheduled for June - Karzai, Mohaqiq and the only female candidate Massouda Jalal.

In recent weeks Karzai has sacked several provincial governors, prompting speculation he is trying to extend his influence ahead of the polls. Mohaqiq said his sacking was the result of a "dispute with Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani over administrative issues."

Mohaqiq said the row began when Ghani interfered in issues which were the responsibility of the planning ministry, adding that the disagreement had been going on since the formation of the interim administration in 2001 after the ouster of Taliban.

"I had repeatedly informed President Karzai on this issue but he paid little attention," he said. "Again, in the last cabinet meeting I reminded Karzai about the case but he ignored it," he said.

"Finally, as an objection, I boycotted the session - the next day I heard that they announced I have resigned," he added. "I have been threatened to not stand for the elections," the Hazara leader said. -AFP