Afghan parliamentary elections will be postponed to September, Afghan President Hamid Karzai confirmed Thursday here at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.(Photo: Xinhua)

(Photo: Xinhua/REUTERS)

    KABUL, March 17, (Xinhuanet) -- Afghan parliamentary elections will be postponed to September, Afghan President Hamid Karzai confirmed Thursday here at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

    Karzai, who made the first official statement on the delay of parliamentary poll, said the delay was due to a number of "technical problems," such as the lack of an accurate census.

    "The preparations are going on and now they told us, the commission chairman, that the elections will be held in September," said Karzai.

    "The election is an independent organization ... we respect whatever recommendation this commission makes," he added.

    The parliamentary poll, originally to have been held in tandem with last October's presidential vote, was repeatedly delayed amidconcerns about security and logistical problems. Enditem