Taliban minister defects

A Taliban minister has defected.

Haji Mullah Khaksar says he has dissociated himself from the regime and is pledging his support for peace initiatives.

The Deputy Interior Minister is a former aide of Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

He says he preferred to stay in Kabul after its fall to Alliance forces on November 13 because he wants to work for the betterment of Afghanistan.

He is now working with Northern Alliance leaders towards achieving a broad-based administration in Afghanistan.

The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency quotes Khaksar as saying: "I announce to the United Front (Northern Alliance) and all other parties my support.

"I am working with the Northern Alliance, I am not representing the Taliban. I am representing myself.

"I don't know about other Taliban, if they should leave or not, but they should think why are they fighting and for what."

Khaksar has not been included in the Afghan talks in Bonn, but he says he is ready to "work on the peace process".