TEHRAN A number of Afghan personalities have asked President Khatami to step up efforts to find a solution for more than two decades of war and bloodshed in Afghanistan.

These political figures, while appreciating Mr. Khatami's initiative to establish peace in the region and at the international level, encouraged the Iranian president to do everything he can to stop civil strife in this war-torn country.

Seyed Es'haq Gilani, one of the leaders of the National Council of Afghanistan, congratulated President Khatami on his landslide victory in the presidential election and expressed hope that in his second term practical steps would be taken to resolve the longstanding Afghan crisis.

He stressed that Mr. Khatami is an intellectual cleric who introduced a new doctrine at the international level and that his reelection not only inspires hope in the hearts of Muslims throughout the world but also could bring promote peace at the international level.

Also, Dr. Sediq Momand, one of the leaders of the Islamic Revolution of Afghanistan, welcomed the reelection of President Khatami and expressed hope that Iran's political campaign to establish peace and stability and the formation of an Afghan government with the participation of all Afghan political parties could be materialized.

He suggested that the political system established in Iran following the revolution, which proved to be democratic in the recent election, could be a good example for other Islamic states as well.