KABUL — Afghanistan’s parliament rejected powerful warlord Ismail Khan for a new term as the country’s energy minister Saturday and turned down at least 10 others nominated for Cabinet posts by President Hamid Karzai.The laborious reading of individual votes continued into the evening, but the incomplete tally showed Karzai clearly facing significant resistance from lawmakers as he tries to get his second term in office into full swing.Khan — accused by human rights groups of complicity in war crimes — was one of 10 incumbents nominated by Karzai to serve in his 25-member Cabinet. Some incumbents were seen as favorites of the United States and other Western nations whose financial and military support is critical to Karzai.But Khan, a warlord in western Herat province during Afghanistan’s civil war, was a controversial choice and critics said his nomination reflected the extent to which Karzai is beholden to regional power-brokers.In another high-stakes political issue, the chief of Afghanistan’s elections commission said Saturday a parliamentary vote will be held in May despite widespread international concern that the country’s electoral system needs serious reform.Elections commission chief Ali Najafi told a news conference the national vote will be held May 22.However, he said Afghanistan needs about $50 …

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Warlord rejected for new Afghan Cabinet

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