her political or pressure groups:
the former resistance commanders are the major power brokers in the
countryside; shuras (councils) of commanders are now administering most
cities outside Kabul; ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders
Suffrage:
undetermined; previously universal, male ages 15-50
Elections:
President: last held NA December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1994); results -
Burhanuddin RABBANI was elected to a two-year term by a national shura

*Afghanistan, Government

Executive branch:
president, prime minister; Afghan leaders are still in the process of
choosing a cabinet (May 1993)
Legislative branch:
a unicameral parliament consisting of 205 members was chosen by the shura in
January 1993; non-functioning as of June 1993
Judicial branch:
an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been appointed, but a new
court system has not yet been organized
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Burhanuddin RABBANI (since 2 January 1993); First Vice President
Mohammad NABI Mohammadi (since NA); First Vice President Mohammad SHAH Fazli
(since NA)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister-designate Gulbaddin HIKMATYAR (since NA); Deputy Prime
Minister Sulayman GAILANI (since NA); Deputy Prime Minister Din MOHAMMAD
(since NA); Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad SHAH Ahmadzai (since NA)
Member of:
AsDB (has previously been a member of), CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM
chancery:
2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 234-3770 or 3771
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
embassy:
Ansari Wat, Wazir Akbar Khan Mina, Kabul
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
62230 through 62235 or 62436
note:
US Embassy in Kabul was closed in January 1989
Flag:
a new flag of unknown description reportedly has been adopted; previous flag
consisted of three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green,
with the national coat of arms superimposed on the hoist side of the black
and red bands; similar to the flag of Malawi, which is shorter and bears a
radiant, rising red sun centered in the black band

*Afghanistan, Economy

Overview:
Fundamentally, Afghani