Karzai Fires Intelligence Chief

The Afghan parliament has forced the hand of President Hamid Karzai, squeezing out the leadership of the so-called power ministries.

Officials say Afghan President Hamid Karzai has fired his intelligence chief, Rehmatullah Nabeel.

Lawmaker Iqbal Safi, a member of the Afghan parliament's security committee, told journalists on August 29 that Nabeel had confirmed his sacking to the committee.

A statement from the president's office quoted Karzai as commending Nabil's "dedication" and said he would soon become an Afghan ambassador to a foreign country.

Nabeel, a former head of presidential security, was appointed to head the Afghan National Directorate of Security in 2010.

His sacking completes the removal of top Afghan security officials after parliament forced the ouster of the defense and interior ministers earlier this month.

Lawmaker Abdul Qadir Qalatwal said on August 29 that parliament had been told that Karzai would nominate new defense and interior ministers "today or tomorrow."

He said the ousted interior minister, Bismullah Khan Mohammadi, could be nominated to be the new defense minister, replacing Abdul Rahim Wardak.

Based on reporting by AFP, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, and BBC