Interim leader slips quietly into Kabul

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

Unlike the nominal president, Burhanuddin Rabbani, Mr Karzai chose not to make a triumphal public entrance into the city.

Instead, he was flown to Bagram air base north of the capital and arrived in the city after 1am, several figures in the new government said.

Haji Kahar, a spokesman for the foreign minister in the new government, confirmed Mr Karzai's arrival, but did not say whether he had any public appearances planned.

Journalists were summoned to the presidential palace after midnight to see the new leader, but they were sent back hours later without explanation. Kabul is under a strict overnight curfew.

Haji Abul Fazel, spokesman for a Shiite faction of the Northern Alliance, said Mr Karzai would meet Cabinet ministers on Thursday. He said Mr Karzai did not meet Mr Rabbani when he arrived at the presidential palace, because of the lateness of the hour.

Mr Rabbani, who was president before the Taliban took over, has agreed to give up power in exchange for his party being given several key posts in the new government but he has repeatedly complained about the allocation of power.

Yesterday, he said his Northern Alliance - which took over most of Afghanistan after the Taliban were routed by punishing US airstrikes - had been pressured into signing the UN-brokered accords that paved the way for the new government.

He denounced what he said had been "foreign interference" in Afghanistan's affairs.

Mr Karzai's government is to take power on December 22.