A former Afghan resistance leader, Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayaf, Thursday registered with the country's election commission to contest the coming presidential elections slated for April 5, 2014.
The bearded Sayaf who had fought against the former Soviet Union and resisted Taliban militants' onslaught until their collapse under the US-led military campaign in late 2001, visited the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan with hundreds of supporters, Xinhua reported.
Sayaf resigned as member of Wolesi Jirga, or the lower house of parliament, Wednesday.
Though regarded as a radical Islamist by many Afghans, he said he respects women's rights.
Presidential candidates can register their names Sep 16-Oct 5 and so far four aspirants have registered with the election body to contest the third presidential race in post-Taliban Afghanistan.
