Afghan governor removed from post

A provincial governor in Afghanistan who last week criticised the government of President Karzai has been removed from his post.

The interior ministry said the governor of Kapisa province, Abdul Sattar Murad, had been sacked for being ineffective, threatening people and sowing discord.

He says he was removed because he said in an interview there was a vacuum of authority in parts of Afghanistan.

The ministry said the decision to sack him was made before the interview.

In the interview, with Newsweek magazine, Mr Murad said the lack of authority was allowing criminals and insurgents to step in.