It has been reported that two senior Afghan government officials resigned on Sunday after President Hamid Karzai blamed them for failing to prevent last week's attack on the "peace jirga."

The Washington Post has reported that Karzai accepted the resignations of Interior Minister Hanif Atmar and National Security Director Amrullah Saleh, both of whom had close ties to Washington.

Karzai said in a statement on Sunday that explanations offered by Atmar and Saleh for the security lapse that allowed the Taliban to attack last week's nationwide conference with rockets and gunfire were "not satisfactory."

At least three rockets were fired at the meeting of delegates, and three people were killed nearby.

The New York Times also reported on Sunday that a NATO official close to Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the military commander in Afghanistan, said the resignations were "not helpful to what we're trying to do right now."

The development "is clearly a matter between President Karzai and his leadership," said a statement issued by McChrystal.

McChrystal also said, "I respect the president's authority to make this difficult political decision."

People close to Karzai told the Times that Karzai had argued with Atmar and Saleh during the past several months. Security officials also told the newspaper that disagreements centered on the appointment of police officials and other personnel matters. (With Inputs from Agencies)