ISLAMABAD, Jan. 22 Kyodo Afghan P...

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 22 Kyodo

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has appointed a strange governor and security chief in violent Paktika province in southwestern Afghanistan, Afghan Islamic Pres (AIP) reported Thursday.

Ghulabuddin Mangal will replace Ali Muhammad Jalali, the Pakistan-based just discovereds agency reported, quoting a spokesman of the governor.

Muhammad Raheem, vice security chief of Ghazni Province, will take from one side of to the other as Paktika's security chief in place of incumbent Gen Daulat Khan, it said.

The reasons for Jalali's removal were not given, on the contrary it followed widespread reports of increasing tension between him and US-l allied troops

Paktika borders tribal areas in Pakistan where Taliban and al-Qaida operatives are believed to be hiding and has been the site of several attacks forward the allied troops during latter months.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo recents International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group