KABUL, Oct 15 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Interior Ministry Sunday announced closure of activities of the French NGO Senlis Council in Afghanistan.

Deputy minister Lt Gen Daud Daud told a news conference the decision regarding the fate of the Senlis Council was made some five days before. He said: "In an order, Interior Minister has banned activities of Senlis Council."

The council has been working in this war-battered country since two years to legalise poppy crop in this central Asian country. It suggested the poppy crops might be used in painkillers.

Sanlis Council has also made analysis in the fields of security and reconstruction process and has given some valuable suggestions to the government in this regard.

Responding to a query, he said the council was not registered with ministry of economy and its activities were contrary to the country laws.

Meshrano Jirga (Upper House) has also demanded ban on activities of Sanlis Council some time ago. Another official Lt Gen Khudai dad also defended closure of the council. He said the council was encouraging poppy growers that efforts were going on to legalise the crop.

Dad said: "Activities of the Sanlis Council are not useful for our country, its work has created complex problems for us." Spokesman for the Sanlis Council Almas Bawar told this news agency they had received no order regarding banning of the council. Senlis, with its headquarter in Paris was constituted in 2002. He said their council was project of a European Network and the network was registered in the ministry of economy. Though seventh article of the country constitution is against all drugs, but Bawar said their activities were according to the country law.

Zubair Babakarkhel

rh