Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he has accepted a vote by the country's parliament to dismiss his two top security ministers, but ordered both to remain in their jobs pending replacement.
Karzai's statement came during a National Security Council meeting on August 5.
Legislators voted on August 4 to remove Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Interior Minister Bismillah Mohammadi after recent insurgent assassinations of top officials, as well as crossborder fire incidents blamed on Pakistan.
After similar moves against other ministers by legislators in the past, Karzai has at times kept them serving in an acting capacity for months.
Parliament's dismissal of the two security ministers -- particularly Wardak, who has strong support among Afghanistan's Western allies -- comes as the U.S.-led force prepares to pull out by the end of 2014, handing responsibility for security to Afghan forces.
Karzai's statement came during a National Security Council meeting on August 5.
Legislators voted on August 4 to remove Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Interior Minister Bismillah Mohammadi after recent insurgent assassinations of top officials, as well as crossborder fire incidents blamed on Pakistan.
After similar moves against other ministers by legislators in the past, Karzai has at times kept them serving in an acting capacity for months.
Parliament's dismissal of the two security ministers -- particularly Wardak, who has strong support among Afghanistan's Western allies -- comes as the U.S.-led force prepares to pull out by the end of 2014, handing responsibility for security to Afghan forces.
