KABUL, Dec 11: An Afghan minister said on Saturday he wanted to shut down nearly 2,000 non-government organizations (NGOs) because they flout the rules and laws of the country.

Planning Minister Ramazan Bashardoost's remarks prompted an NGO umbrella group to voice concern should President Hamid Karzai decide to retain the minister in his new cabinet.

"I took a decision that 1,935 NGOs should be dissolved. And I stand strongly behind my decision," Mr Bashardoost said, saying that his hit list included 260 foreign agencies.-Reuters