Karzai delays new Afghan parliament

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered a one-month delay to the inauguration of parliament after a special election court asked for more time to look into fraud allegations.

Mr Karzai promised there would be no delay beyond the new 22 February target for forming the assembly, but by then Afghanistan will have been without a parliament for more than five months.

The fraud-riddled September poll and months of infighting have raised questions about the credibility of Mr Karzai and his government.