Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on reported threats of Afghan officials seizing power:
 
“We should not support any extra-constitutional power grab in Afghanistan, especially from members of the Karzai clique.  The only acceptable path to power is through the vote of the Afghan people, and I fully support the U.N.-backed audit process to determine the next legitimate president.  Although the candidates must still work together and forge a national unity government, it would be foolish to ditch the democratic progress Afghanistan has made.  Afghanistan cannot afford to revert to political infighting that would threaten international support and potentially lead to civil war.”

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