Kabul scene

Karzai's action was hailed by diplomats as a bold move and a message to all of the warlords to disarm and work in favour of elections. But it also showed his political vulnerabilities. Karzai's new vice-presidential nominee, Ahmed Zia Massoud, is a younger brother of Ahmed Shah Massoud, the commander of the Northern Alliance who was killed by suicide bombers on September 9, 2001, just two days before the 9/11 attack that prompted the US to invade Afghanistan. He has been serving for the past few years, however, as Afghan ambassador to Russia. The decision came after intense negotiations and heightened tension in the capital in recent days as Fahim, the defence minister, pressed hard to retain his other position as first vice-president.

Immediately after Karzai's announcement, the education minister, Yunus Qanooni, announced his candidacy for president and said he was resigning from the government. He said he had the support of Fahim; the foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah; and Massoud's younger brother, Ahmed Wali Massoud, who represent the core of the Panjshiri group, which has until now played a dominant role in Karzai's transitional administration.