Kabul, June 5, SPA -- Officials on Sunday listed the names of 6,070 Afghans who have nominated themselves ascandidates in parliamentary and local elections inSeptember. Of those listed, 588 are women, who were banned from allpublic life under the former Taliban regime, said RichardAtwood, chief of operations for the joint U.N.-Afghanelection commission. At least a quarter of all seats in both a new nationallegislature and provincial assemblies have been reservedfor women. Enough have registered for the nationallegislature, but there is a slight shortfall for theprovincial ones and five seats in the assemblies will beleft vacant, Atwood said. The list of candidates has been displayed at electionoffices around the country and people have until Thursdayto formally challenge a candidate's right to take part inthe election, he said. Election law bars anyone with acriminal record or ties to militia groups from running, The Associated Press reported. A final list of approved candidates by an independent committeewill be published July 12.--SPA1252 Local Time 0952 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/267547