DAVOS, Switzerland – Afghanistan’s foreign minister said yesterday that much-anticipated parliamentary elections scheduled for May could be delayed by as much as two months, the closest an Afghan leader has come to acknowledging the country will not stick to its democratic timetable.

Foreign Minister Abdullah said “technical preparations” might force a delay in the vote beyond the May 20 deadline, but that the country would understand and get behind the vote.

“Even if it is not on time because of technical preparations, which are needed, it will be around one or two months from the original time, during summertime,” Abdullah said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “This would be okay, and the people would accept that.”

The foreign minister, who like many Afghans uses only one name, did not elaborate on what technical preparations are behind the possible delay.

The parliamentary elections are slated for the Afghan month of Saur, which runs through around May 20.

Many observers have suspected voting would be delayed because of the daunting task of organizing the election, which is supposed to include ballots for district and provincial assemblies. But Abdullah’s comments were the first acknowledgement from the government that a delay might be necessary.

Afghanistan successfully held presidential elections in October, despite worries over violence and disorganization. The Parliament vote is seen as a key next step in the country’s move toward democracy after a quarter-century of war.

But the legislative election requires more complex organization than the presidential one because of the large number of candidates expected to take part, and because local politics is expected to spur more passion, and possibly more bloodshed.

Abdullah said security in his country – still grappling with a stubborn Taliban insurgency and a rise in drug related violence – will be adequate in time for the vote.

“I think security-wise the situation has improved and it will improve further,” he said. “And the people will support the election. They got behind the presidential elections, and they are even more enthusiastically behind the parliamentary elections.”

A spokeswoman in Kabul for the United Nations, Ariane Quentier, which is helping organize the vote, declined earlier yesterday to comment on a possible delay, saying the date was up to the newly appointed Afghan electoral commission.

Commission chief Bismillah Bismil could not be reached immediately for comment on Abdullah’s remarks.

The French commander of the NATO forces that patrol the capital, Kabul, and the north of the country urged the government on Wednesday to set as early a date as possible, saying that a delay into the summer could disrupt military planning.

Abdullah, once a close aide to slain mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massood, survived a Cabinet reshuffle in December despite his initial support for President Karzai’s main rival in the election, Yunus Qanooni.

Mr. Karzai has urged his new Cabinet, dominated by liberal technocrats rather than warlord and faction leaders, to give up their party affiliations, though it is unclear how many have complied.

In the interview, Abdullah also said he hoped Sunday’s election in Iraq would improve the security situation in that country.

“I pray and I hope that the Iraqi elections are a success. It is a very important test for the Iraqis and the international community,” Abdullah said. “I have no doubt that if the elections in Iraq are successful they will have a lasting impact on the situation in the country.”