11.   Rakhmonov had appointed the mayor just two months ago.

12.   Since then, the local government has been treated as a federal department and its mayor was appointed by the president.

13.   That would give it the majority it needs to appoint a mayor.

14.   The mayor previously was appointed.

15.   The mayor was previously appointed by the president.

16.   The present mayors were appointed by the central government.

17.   The opposition nonetheless accuses Arafat of taking every decision himself and of appointing mayors in Gaza City and Nablus.