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Powell Denies Heavy U.S. Hand at Afghan Assembly
Tuesday, June 11, 2002
(2:41 PM ET)
Reuters

Secretary of State Colin Powell (R) and Australian Prime Minister John Howard answer questions from reporters after a meeting in Washington, June 11, 2002. Powell praised a tribal assembly that opened in Afghanistan and denied the United States had been too involved in its selection of a new president.
Image Credit: Reuters.

"I think we have helped create, along with our Australian friends and so many others who have come to Afghanistan ... conditions, so that such a meeting ... could come together and find their way into the future in accordance with their traditions and their processes," Powell said.

WASHINGTON -- Reuters
Secretary of State Colin Powell praised a tribal assembly that opened in Afghanistan on Tuesday and denied the United States been too involved in its selection of a new president, a process that was mired in confusion as he spoke.

Asked about complaints by some delegates that Washington had heavy-handedly backed interim leader Hamid Karzai for president, Powell replied: "I don't think that's accurate."

"I think we can see the Loya Jirga unfolding before our eyes. It seems to be representative of all the people of Afghanistan. I was reading some fascinating overnight traffic about the open meeting they have, of debate, discussion, disagreement, in the Afghan tradition," Powell said.
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2002 © Reuters, Ltd.

Dan