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Afghan Government Appoints Peace Council

   VOA News 28 September 2010
   Members of the Afghan Taliban (FILE)

Photo: AP

   Members of the Afghan Taliban (FILE)

   The  Afghan  government  has  appointed a committee to negotiate peace
   talks  with  the  Taliban,  in an effort to get insurgents to lay down
   their arms.
   President  Hamid  Karzai  on Tuesday unveiled the 70-member High Peace
   Council,  which  includes  former  warlords, former presidents, former
   Taliban officials, civil and religious leaders, as well as women.
   The  decision  to  create  the  council  was  made  in June at a peace
   assembly or "jirga."
   President  Karzai  has called for the Taliban to renounce violence and
   respect  the country's constitution.  On Tuesday, he renewed his call
   for the insurgent group to embrace peace.
   The  commander  of  U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David
   Petraeus,  said Monday that high-level Taliban leaders have approached
   the Afghan government seeking reconciliation.
   Petraeus  said the U.S. military supports Mr. Karzai's conditions, and
   compared the approach to the battle against Sunni insurgents in Iraq.

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

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