Another candidate in Afghan presidential poll fray

Afghan political figure Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai Sunday registered with the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC), launching his bid for the upcoming presidential elections, Xinhua reported.

The country's third presidential and provincial council elections since the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001 is slated for April 5 next year.

Ahmadzai recently resigned from his post as the chairman of Afghan Security Transition Commission, a government-backed body in charge of arranging security transition from NATO and US forces stationed in the country to national security forces.

In the 2009 presidential elections, he ranked fourth in the polls, behind incumbent President Hamid Karzai, his main opponent Abdullah Abdullah, and Ramazan Bashardost.

He is the latest aspirant to register his names since Sep 16 when the registration of candidates started.

The nomination process is expected to end later Sunday at around 4 p.m.

Afghan Minister of Commerce Anwar-ul- Haq Hadi has also resigned to take part in the process.

Earlier Sunday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued a presidential decree ordering government officials and institutions not to interfere in the election process, or use government resources and facilities in favour or against any candidates.