Parliamentary elections postponed to September

Afghanistan's election authorities said Sunday they had to postpone parliamentary elections from May to September because of a funding shortage and lack of security in the troubled country. "The Independent Election Commission, due to lack of budget, security and uncertainty and logistical challenges... has decided to conduct the Wolosi Jirga election on September 18, 2010," Fazil Ahmad Manawi, a senior commissioner told reporters in Kabul. Wolosi Jirga is the official name for Afghanistan's lower house of the parliament. The ballot was originally planned for May 22.