File photo taken August 28, 2005 shows Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali delivers a speech in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ali Ahmad Jalali submitted his resignation to President Hamid Karzai September 27, 2005. (Xinhua photo)

KABUL, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Afghanistan's Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali announced his resignation from office Wednesday.

    "I have submitted my resignation to the president and now it is up him to decide," he told journalists at a news conference here at Interior Ministry compound.

    Citing personal reasons such as following academic job and research, Jalali added that several months ago he rendered his resignation but the president asked him to stay till the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections is held.

    However, he rejected rumors of differences with President Hamid Karzai and added President is his friend.

    He also added that the president had consulted with him about his successor but he declined to name the person who will replace him.

    Unconfirmed reports circling the city say that Jalali's differences with President Karzai over the appointment of governors and dealing with drug traffickers forced the minister to quit office.

    Jalali, a former army officer and ex-director of Dari-Pushtu service of the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, according to some sources, wants to contest the next presidential elections in the post-war nation.   Enditem