Afghan foreign minister has been dropped off in the recent cabinet reshuffle. Dr Abdollah has been replaced by Dr Dadfar Spanta, Karzai's adviser on foreign affairs.

Many observers see the exclusion of Dr Abdollah with both surprise and scepticism, as he was one of the ministers that has scored notable achievements over the past four years.

Dr Masuda Jalal, former minster of women's affairs, and two other female minsters have also been excluded. The new cabinet only has one new female member, Dr Suraya Sohrang.

Karzai has time and again been censured by opponents for appointing senior officials on the basis of ethnic and tribal relations. It is therefore feared that the removal of Dr Abdollah, an ethnic Tajik, could unleash a wave of criticism.