Taliban handing over weapons

Taliban forces are understood to be handing over their weapons in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

The order is said to have come direct from the Taliban's supreme commander, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

He had originally ordered his men to defend Kandahar, the last major stronghold, to the death.

The weapons are being handed over to a commission made up of Muslim clerics, local tribal elders and some opposition commanders.

There are unconfirmed reports of looting and gunfire in Kandahar as residents realised that the reign of the Taliban had ended.

Similar surrenders are also taking place in nearby Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand province, as well as several other centres in the region.

There are no reports of any resistance by Taliban fighters.

Mullah Mohammed Omar is accused of protecting Osama bin Laden and his terrorist al-Qaida group.

The US has made it clear that it will not accept a deal that allows Omar and other top Taliban leaders to go free.