Powerful Afghan governor defying President Ghani agrees to go

MAZAR-I SHARIF, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Months of wrangling that have undermined the authority of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's Western-backed government ended on Thursday when the powerful governor of Balkh province agreed to step aside following a deal over his successor.

Atta Mohammad Noor, who has defied Ghani's attempts to remove him from office for months, said he would step aside, allowing Ishaq Rahgozar, a member of parliament, to move to the governor's palace in the provincial capital, Mazar-i Sharif.