Abdullah Sees Karzai Parliament Delay Illegal

President Hamid Karzai's decree about a delay in Afghan Parliament opening for another month is against laws, Dr Abdullah Abdullah said on Thursday.

Dr Abdullah, leader of Change and Hope coalition, government's main opposition, warned that the postponement could further plunge the country into crisis.

After President Karzai approved the Special Court's suggestion to delay parliament inauguration, Karzai's top political rivals strongly slammed it.

"Postponement of the parliament opening is not in the benefit of Afghanistan at all. People have been waiting to see the parliament inaugurated," Dr Abdullah said. "There is no doubt that Karzai wants to rule without parliament, accountability and without an institution that could raise people's voice."

President Karzai has formed the special court to look into complaints made by protesting candidates, and he has now proposed a further delay in parliament opening only because the present parliament has more opposition than the previous one, Abdullah said.

"The special court, which is led by five people, is not able to investigate about the whole process," Abdullah said. "This will step by step lead the country to further crisis.

President Karzai Wednesday postponed the opening of parliament for a month in a bid to give time for the Special Court to look into complaints and the results of the fraud-tainted elections.

Meanwhile, winning candidates of Afghan parliamentary election Thursday insisted that the parliament be opened on January 23 as previously planned.

They said they want to start their work on the set date, adding that if the Afghan President does not go to the opening ceremony, they will ask the UN to send a representative.

They called on international community and the United Nations to help open the new House of Representatives.