Dozens of angry delegates walked out of Afghanistan's grand assembly on Wednesday, saying they were not being consulted, as the gathering prepared to choose a leader to rule the country for the next 18 months. The Loya Jirga, a traditional Afghan parliament, is expected to vote later on a new president with Hamid Karzai, interim leader and favorite of the United States, the sole candidate. (Read photo caption)

PASHTUNS SIDELINED

Some 60 to 70 delegates, frustrated over what they said was the lack of a free vote over the country's future, left the meeting on the second day of an event that has gathered around 1,600 people from a myriad of ethnic groups across Afghanistan.

The Loya Jirga is meant to appoint a successor to the government that took office under a U.N.-brokered deal after U.S. air attacks and opposition forces drove out the hardline Taliban late last year.

In an assembly deeply divided politically, the main rift to emerge is between the mostly ethnic Pashtun backers of the former king, seen by many as the father of the nation, and powerful ethnic minority Northern Alliance commanders who oppose giving him any role in government.

Pashtuns have complained of discrimination and of being sidelined by Northern Alliance figures and there is a long history of bloodshed between the communities.

The northern commanders favor as leader the Western-educated Karzai, who was once an American resident and is considered an American stooge by his opponents.

LITTLE CONSULTATION

Delegates across the spectrum agreed no voting and little consultation was taking place at the Loya Jirga, an institution that has been around for a thousand years but had been long viewed as a rubber stamp body under the old monarchy.

At Tuesday's opening session, Karzai jumped the gun in assuming the country's leadership, adding to the confusion and tension surrounding the meeting that had already been delayed by a day owing to factional bickering.

Zahir Shah's announcement of support for Karzai was greeted by a wave of applause and it appeared Karzai took that as a signal that he had been elected -- even though no vote had taken place -- and he mistakenly declared he had been acclaimed leader.

Karzai later acknowledged the error but it added to the fears of supporters of the former king that their views were being suppressed and the Loya Jirga was no more than a talking shop set up to back Karzai.

Despite the problems, political analysts said the fact some 1,600 delegates from a myriad of ethnic groups across the country were meeting in peace was a sign of the remarkable change in the country after 23 years of war.

PHOTO CAPTION

Loya Jirga delegates arrive for the meeting, in Kabul, Tuesday, June 11, 2002. Afghanistan opened its grand council to choose a new government Tuesday, shortly after the nation's former president bowed out of the race for head of state, removing the last major challenger to interim leader Hamid Karzai. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)