Taliban forces appeared to be fleeing Kabul tonight as the opposition Northern Alliance said their troops had pushed to the gates of the Afghan capital.

The Northern Alliance claims to be closing in on the last Taliban stronghold in the north of Afghanistan.

Northern Alliance forces say they are poised to seize two provinces where the Taliban still have some control in northern Afghanistan.

The Northern Alliance opposition force in Afghanistan claimed today that it has seized a key central province from the ruling Taliban following heavy overnight fighting.