Northern Alliance won't oppose international security force

The Northern Alliance will not oppose an international security force to ensure peace during an interim administration.

They say the need for an international force in Afghanistan is inevitable until a permanent government is formed.

The Alliance says such a force is not needed at present because their own troops are safeguarding the peace.

The Northern Alliance had previously rejected an outside force to maintain the peace.

Northern Alliance delegation leader Younus Qanooni says progress on creating an interim administration is being made.

"Today, I am more optimistic than yesterday about the outcome of this meeting," he said.

The US said earlier that Afghan factions are moving toward a formula for power-sharing in a two-body interim administration to run the country until a national council can be convened in Kabul.

The Northern Alliance, whose fighters hold power on the ground, went further, saying it had agreed with the former Afghan king's delegation on a formula for an interim executive council, one of the two bodies envisioned.

It also said it had agreed with the ex-king's side that the executive council will have 42 members, with 21 members each from the Alliance and delegation of former King Mohammad Zaher Shah.

But UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi cautioned that a deal has yet to be sealed, partly because two smaller exile groups also involved in the talks in Germany have other proposals.