Afghanistan opened its grand council to choose a new government today, shortly after the nation’s former president bowed out of the race for head of state, removing the last major challenger to interim leader Hamid Karzai.

An Afghan warlord with links to the Iranian and Pakistani authorities has called for a jihad, or holy war, against the British and US soldiers currently stationed in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's first peaceful transfer of power in decades has begun.

Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai is holding talks with top figures in his interim government after slipping into the capital Kabul.

Four Afghan factions have agreed on a framework for a post-Taliban administration.

The United Nations presented a draft deal on Afghanistan’s political future today, outlining terms for the Northern Alliance to transfer power as part of intense international efforts to secure peace and stability in the war-torn country.

US Marines were today patrolling the desert near the Taliban’s last stronghold after Afghan warriors said they would take the airport then seize the city itself.

The Northern Alliance says it is ready to transfer power to a UN-backed transitional council.

Talks on Afghanistan’s political future moved into a decisive phase today, with pressure building on the Northern Alliance to agree to an interim administration.

Anti-Taliban Afghan tribesmen, supported by US bomb attacks, are reportedly advancing on the southern city of Kandahar today in an effort to rout the Taliban from its last remaining stronghold.

Afghans welcomed talks aimed at forming a broad-based, interim government today, and expressed overwhelming support for the exiled king as a leader the nation could unite behind.

The head of the Northern Alliance says he is prepared to hand over power in Afghanistan to an interim government.

American warplanes are striking Taliban positions outside the northern city of Kunduz, the Islamic militia's sole remaining stronghold in the north of Afghanistan.

Former president Burhanuddin Rabbani is in the Afghan capital for the first time since he was driven out in 1996.

Afghan warlords have a long tradition of changing sides in mid-battle, and none has switched teams more often than Rashid Dostum, the gruff and burly leader of an ethnic Uzbek faction.

The political head of the Afghan opposition says his fighters can handle the Taliban on their own and do not need troops sent in from other countries.

Arab fighters suspected of links to Osama bin Laden have been given citizenship by the former Afghan Government, now fighting the Taliban.

US warplanes resumed bombing early today on several Taliban positions in an effort to clear the way for advances by forces opposed to Afghanistan’s ruling movement.