Afghan President Hamid Karzai submitted a new list of Cabinet nominees Saturday to replace ministers rejected by parliament in a shock snub last week, but lawmakers promised a tough fight to get the names confirmed. In what are likely to be seen as positive changes by both the West and many of Karzai's critics at home, it included no prominent ex-guerrilla chiefs and fewer of their allies. It also included a record three women, up from just one in both the outgoing Cabinet and Karzai's earlier list. In an apparent concession to parliamentarians, Karzai did not seek new posts for any of the 17 candidates that had been rejected, although the palace had earlier said he might put some forward for different portfolios. Two spots remain vacant. Nevertheless, many of the new nominees are little known, and lawmakers said they would vet them carefully. “It looks like Karzai has picked them up from the street,” parliament member Sayed Dawood Hashimi said, predicting that only four or five would be approved. Parliament's rejection of most of Karzai's first slate was a major political blow to a man who has been Afghanistan's leader since US-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in late 2001. Seven ministers already confirmed from the original list included the defense, interior and finance ministers, held over from Karzai's pre-election Cabinet. Together they control a large chunk of foreign cash and are liked by Western governments. The house had rejected a number of allies of former guerrilla commanders that backed Karzai's re-election. Dawood Sultanzoy, one of the parliamentarians who led the revolt against the previous list, said the new list was “a mix of qualified and not very qualified people”. “I think the result of the vote will also be a mix of some who will get the vote of confidence and some will not, that's my prediction,” he said. The new list contained 16 names, including Karzai's security adviser, Zalmay Rasul, nominated to the previously unfilled post of foreign minister. The two posts left unfilled are the communications ministry and the water and energy portfolio. Among those not given a new spot were powerful former guerrilla commander Ismail Khan, the outgoing water and energy minister, whose narrow rejection for the same post last week was the highest-profile snub to Karzai. Parliament's veto last week of Khan, who backed Karzai's re-election in August at the last minute and helped secure him votes in the west of the country, was seen as the clearest sign that lawmakers wanted to curb the influence of former warlords.
