Akbar Hashemi's memoirs - November 30, 2001

With the deadlock over the triple-urgency plan in the Sixth Parliament, midterm parliamentary elections were held in Golestan Province.

Diary Entry:

I stayed home today. I spent my time studying the interpretation of the Quran, revising the index for the Tafsir Rahnama, draining the pool, and walking in the yard. In the evening, Fatemeh came and mentioned that she intends to start building a large cancer hospital.

In Palestine yesterday, a Palestinian martyrdom operation killed four Zionists and injured nine others. The Bonn Conference [on Afghanistan's future] is ongoing. The American delegation stated that Zahir Shah lacks strong mental faculties and appropriate emotional stability; for example, he still believes Akhdar Brahimi represents the Algerian government rather than the UN. Meanwhile, Burhanuddin Rabbani announced that the delegation sent by the United Front has limited authority and cannot make crucial decisions at the conference. India has allowed the U.S. to use its ports and airports.

Today, midterm parliamentary elections were held in Golestan Province. In some cities, voter turnout was unusually high for midterm elections, embarrassing the Reformists, who had effectively boycotted the elections. In some cities, however, participation was lower.

A dispute has arisen between Spain and Morocco over two Muslim-inhabited cities in the Gibraltar area, with both claiming ownership.