UN authorises peace-keeping force for Afghanistan

The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to authorise a multinational force to assist Afghanistan's new interim government.

It will provide security in the Kabul area for six months.

Approval by the 15-member council clears the way for the force to deploy about 200 Royal Marines to the streets of Kabul by tomorrow.

The advance guard of the British-led force earlier landed in Afghanistan.

"It is the initial stage of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force). We are here to start providing security and assistance," said Royal Marines company commander Major Matt Jones at Bagram air base outside Kabul.

"We will be assisting with the running and providing a presence at the inauguration of the interim government," he said referring to Saturday's ceremony in the Afghan capital.

The country's interim government, lead by Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, is to be sworn in at the event.

The marines of B company, 40 Commando, from HMS Fearless in the Arabian Sea were flown by helicopter to an air base in an undisclosed Middle East country and taken to Bagram on a RAF C-130 Hercules on a six-hour flight.

A small contingent of British forces has been based in Bagram for some weeks.

Major Jones says the mission will begin tomorrow when his men, accompanied by Afghan security forces, will accompany VIPs arriving for the ceremony from the base to Kabul.