Northern Alliance accepts invitation to UN talks

The leader of Afghanistan’s opposition Northern Alliance, Burhanuddin Rabbani, has accepted an invitation from the UN to attend talks on the formation of a new Afghan Government.

The UN still recognises the Northern Alliance as the legitimate Government in Afghanistan, despite the regime’s past record of human rights abuses and war crimes.

However, the UN does not want the alliance to regain control over the country and would prefer a government comprising of elements from all rival factions.