Afghan Governor Sacked After Criticizing Central Government

(RFE/RL) July 17, 2007 -- Afghanistan's government has sacked the governor of the country's northeastern Kapisa Province.

The Interior Ministry said Abdul Sattar Murad was removed after repeated complaints from civilians accusing him of being ineffective, creating discord among the people, bullying them, and persuading coalition forces to carry out raids on Kapisa residents' homes without justification.

Murad says he was sacked because he criticized the central government's ineffectiveness in an interview published last week.

(AP, AFP, Reuters)