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Afghan President Orders Security Firms to Disband

   VOA News 17 August 2010
   Afghan  President Hamid Karzai reacts during a press conference at the
   presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan (File Photo - 29 Jul 2010)

Photo: AP

   Afghan  President Hamid Karzai reacts during a press conference at the
   presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan (File Photo - 29 Jul 2010)

   Afghan President Hamid Karzai has issued a decree ordering all private
   security firms in Afghanistan to disband within four months.

   Tuesday's  decree  says  the decision aims to "prevent irregularities"
   and the misuse of weapons and other military equipment.

   More  than  50  international and Afghan security firms operate in the
   country,  employing  up  to  40,000  people  and protecting officials,
   troops and supply convoys.

   Many  Afghans  see  such  firms  as operating with impunity. President
   Karzai  has  said  the companies undermine the work of Afghan security
   forces by creating a parallel security structure.

   The  decree  exempts  private firms operating inside compounds used by
   international  groups, such as embassies. It says all security outside
   the  compounds,  including  the protection of military supply convoys,
   will be provided by Afghan forces.

   Any  unlicensed  contractor  will  have  their  weapons  and equipment
   seized.  Employees  of  the disbanded firms can join the Afghan police
   force if they are eligible.

   U.S. officials have called the four-month deadline challenging.

   The  Pentagon  and  NATO officials have said they understand President
   Karzai's  concerns,  but  that  the goal of eliminating security firms
   should not be rushed into.

   Also  Tuesday,  three  NATO  service  members  were killed in separate
   bombings in Afghanistan.

   Another  bomb  attached  to  a  motorcycle exploded in Ghazni province
   Tuesday, killing two civilians and wounding four others.

   In  the  southern Kandahar province, Afghan officials say a bomb blast
   killed a tribal elder in the town of Spin Boldak on Tuesday.

   NATO  says  a  joint  Afghan  and international force killed a Taliban
   facilitator  who  was linked to the kidnapping and killing of two U.S.
   Navy  sailors  last  month.  The  militant, known as Bilal, was killed
   during an operation in Logar province on Monday.

   And  President  Karzai has condemned the stoning to death of a man and
   woman  for  allegedly  having  an affair. Officials in northern Kunduz
   province said the Taliban publicly killed the couple on Sunday.

   Mr.  Karzai  called  the  killings  unforgivable  and ordered security
   officials to bring the perpetrators to justice.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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