Afghan official replaced over Israeli invite

KABUL, Oct 23 (Reuters) An official at Afghanistan's embassy in Germany has been replaced for inviting an Israeli diplomat to a function, a foreign ministry spokesman said today.

''He was a political employee of the embassy and has been replaced because of inviting the Israeli diplomat,'' said Sultan Ahmad Baheen.

Like the majority of Muslim countries, Afghanistan does not recognise the Jewish state.

The invitation to a function celebrating Afghanistan's Independence Day in August was issued to the Israeli diplomat due to a ''technical mistake'', Baheen added.

Baheen said official was removed because Afghanistan had no diplomatic ties with Israel.

REUTERS ARB KN1210