KABUL, Apr 3: An ally of Afghan President Burhanuddln Rabbani challenged today Prime Minister designate Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's new cabin et list, raising fears that intra party bickering will continue reports AFP

Rasul Sayyaf, leader of the Ittihad I-Isiamt faction and key ally of Rabbani said al a press conference he had onty given a list of names to Hekmatyar, but had not had direct consults Hons with him as expected

Giving a list does not mean a consultation ' said Sayyaf "We should be able to present

our views on every post tn the cabinet, not just two '

Hekmatyar, leader of Hezb-1 Islam! faction, was made Prime Minister under the terms of the March 7 peace acco rds signed by all Mujahideen faction leaders In Islamabad, Pakistan.

Accordingly, Hekmatyar was to form his cabinet In consults Hon with the President and the other Mujahideen leaders, who agreed to submit a list of 10 names to Hekmatyar from which they would be allocated 20 ministries

But Sayyaf said Hekmatyar

had neither informed the leaders which ministry nor which nominee he had chosen for them.

"If I Introduce a doctor and he is selected lor the Trans port Ministry It Is pointless," Sayyaf explained "Neither me nor my delegation was consulted about which ministry would be given to us."

"It is necessary for Hekmatyar to Inform us which ministry he has In mind for each of us. then we can Introduce the proper man for that post. Sayyaf said Aitnougn he repeatedly expressed the need for consults tions between the leaders as mutually agreed. Sayyaf gave no satisfactory explanation why those necessary meetings did not take place.

"Unfortunately 1 did not meet Hekmatyar. I was ready to meet him but his place was not proper for the gathering of all leaders." said Sayyaf.

Hekmatyar met with only one leader, his ally Ayatollah Fazil of the Shi'ite Hezb-I-Wahdat faction, all other parties sent only their representatives to Hekmatyar's Charasiab headquarters. 15 kilometres (nine miles) south of the capital.

Except for Rabbani, Hekmatyar, Sayyaf and Fazil, the other faction leaders were not even resident In Afghanistan, let alone Kabul.

Sayyaf said Rabbani has the legal right of approval, and the right of change, to Hekmatyar's list of cabinet nominees.

"But before he docs this, 1 think he should consult with the party leaders," said Sayyaf.