Ashdown withdraws from Afghan post contention
Posted
British politician Paddy Ashdown says he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the post of the United Nations special representative in Afghanistan.
His decision came after the Afghan government made it clear that Mr Ashdown was not their preferred candidate.
Mr Ashdown said the job of UN envoy to Afghanistan could only be done successfully on the basis of a consensus within the international community and the Afghan government.
He said it was clear he did not have the support of Kabul, and was therefore withdrawing his candidacy.
On Saturday the Afghan Ambassador to the UN Zahir Tanin told the BBC that while they held Lord Ashdown, a former high representative in Bosnia in high regard, Kabul's choice for the role would be the British general, John McColl.
Gen McColl served as the first head of the International Security Force in Afghanistan in 2002.
- BBC
