TEHRAN, Oct 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami Sunday called for "free general elections" in neighboring Afghanistan and the formation of a "coalition government", state radio reported.
Khatami made the appeal after meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Tehran.
"We hope for an increased role of the United Nations in this crisis in order to plan the organization of free general elections as well as the formation of a coalition government comprising all the parties," Khatami said in a telephone conversation with the United Nations secretary general, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
"We condemn terrorism as something disastrous and we also regret the war in Afghanistan," Khatami said.
Khatami also called for the participation of all parties and groups in the future Afghan government, saying the establishment of an imposed government would lead to further crisis in the country. "A broad-based and permanent government should be established in Afghanistan under the U.N. planning and holding elections," Khatami said, Iran Islamic news agency IRNA reported.
The Iranian leader also said he deplored an escalation of wars and terror in the year of dialogue among civilizations as declared by the United Nations under his initiative. Khatami also reiterated the role of the civilization dialogue as "a serious issue and a precursor to the establishment of a just and lasting peace."
Annan, for his part, called on Tehran to "cooperate with the U.N." to solve the crisis in Afghanistan.
"We lack means, budget and funds to assure assistance to the Afghan people," Annan was quoted as saying. He called on "all countries, and notably Afghanistan's neighbors, to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people."
