[Iran Press TV Latest] The United Nations mission chief in Afghanistan says that Afghan MPs' decision to reject most of President Hamid Karzai's cabinet nominees is a serious setback for efforts to establish a functioning government in the country. Kai Eide told journalists in Kabul on Sunday that this was a "setback and it's a distraction."
On Saturday, the parliament of Afghanistan rejected more than half of President Karzai's cabinet nominees during confirmation votes.
"It prolongs the situation without a functioning government, which has lasted since summer," the BBC quoted Eide as saying.
Although Karzai is expected to submit the names of new nominees for ministerial posts in the near future, there will still probably be a delay before the new cabinet team is approved because the Afghan Parliament begins a 45-day winter break on Tuesday.