KABUL, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Afghan Defence Minister Abdul Rahim
Wardak resigned on Tuesday after losing a no-confidence vote in
parliament in handling security and being relegated to an acting
role by President Hamid Karzai.
Wardak, one of the country's two key security ministers,
told reporters he respected parliament's decision, which could
complicate NATO plans to hand security responsibilities to
Afghan forces before the end of 2014.
The fractious parliament voted on Saturday to remove Wardak
and Interior Minister Bismillah Mohammadi after recent insurgent
assassinations of senior officials, as well as cross-border fire
incidents blamed on Pakistan.
(Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Nick Macfie)