Afghan former resistance leader registers for presidential elections

A former Afghan resistance leader Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayaf on Thursday registered with the election commission to contest the coming presidential elections slated for April 5, 2014. The bearded Sayaf who had fought against the former Soviet Union and resisted Taliban militants' onslaught until their collapse under the U.S.-led military campaign in late 2001 visited the election commission with hundreds of supporters. Sayaf resigned as member of Wolesi Jirga, or Lower House of parliament, on Wednesday. Though regarded as a radical Islamist by many Afghans, he said he respects women's rights. The registration of presidential candidates is set for Sept. 16 to Oct. 5 and so far four presidential aspirants have registered with the election body to contest the third presidential race in post-Taliban Afghanistan.