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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| It's Working: Warlord opponent wins parliament seat in Afganistan |
| 2005-10-07 |
| A 27-year-old woman and defiant critic of Afghanistan's powerful warlords won one of the first seats declared yesterday in provisional results from landmark parliamentary elections, a key step in the nation's transition to democracy. "I'm very happy and thankful for Afghan men and women who voted for me," said Malalai Joya, a women's rights worker from Farah, who won one of her province's five seats in the 249-seat Wolesi Jirga, the national assembly. "My first priorities when I go to parliament will be peace, security and stability, and to collect all the guns from warlords," she said. Miss Joya rose to prominence by denouncing powerful warlords at a post-Taliban constitutional convention two years ago. Despite concerted United Nations-backed efforts to disarm militia leaders, they remain a dominant force in much of Afghanistan. |
| Posted by:Captain America |
| #2 pretty much. |
| Posted by: bgrebel9 2005-10-07 13:59 |
| #1 I predict she will have a short career before her rival or one of his warlord equals has her killed. EP |
| Posted by: ElvisHasLeftTheBuilding 2005-10-07 13:24 |