Afghanistan: November 3, 2002

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  Some of the 15 provincial officials president Karzai has removed from office yesterday are resisting. The officials claim that they hold authority in the province because of tribal leadership positions. The officials were fired for corruption, as positions of authority in the provinces are seen as a license to engage in corrupt practices. Most of this involves in imposing taxes and charging fees, and keeping most, or all, the money. The government plans to fire more provincial and government officials, partly because of pressure from foreign aid groups. No one wants to give aid to Afghanistan if most of it is going to be stolen. Some of the dismissed officials were also involved in the drug trade, something else the foreign aid nations are not happy about.