Karzai accepts Jalali resignation

Mr Jalali defended his relationship with Mr Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accepted the resignation of his interior minister.

Ali Ahmad Jalali said he had resigned to pursue his academic career and on Wednesday denied any rift with President Karzai.

"These rumours are baseless," the former minister said, adding: "I am one of his closest colleagues."

However, Mr Ali said he was frustrated the government had failed to purge officials involved in the drugs trade.

Medal

Mr Karzai, in accepting the resignation, said he had accepted Mr Jalali's offer to be a special adviser.

I have known Mr Karzai for 25 years. I know him as a person committed to the goodwill of Afghanistan Ali Ahmad Jalali Analysis: Why is Mr Jalali resigning?

The president also said he would award Mr Jalali the Ghazi Mohammad Akbar Khan medal, the nation's most important, named after the Afghan independence fighter.

Mr Jalali, regarded as one of the most respected members of the cabinet, said on Wednesday there was no disagreement with the president.

"I have known Mr Karzai for 25 years. I know him as a person committed to the goodwill of Afghanistan."

However, Mr Jalali, 63, said the drugs trade had to be tackled more effectively.

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"This is something that we want, the interior minister wants, the president wants and the whole government wants: to clean the government, clean the administration," Mr Jalali said.

"Without that, we will not be able to bring about a healthy, committed administration that will only serve the people, will deliver to the people what it is supposed to deliver."

Mr Jalali returned to Afghanistan in 2002 after years in exile in the United States.

He served as a police officer before moving to the US after Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan in 1979.

He later worked as a journalist and writer, eventually heading Voice of America's Persian and Pashto services.