Armed men given 72-hour Kabul deadline

Armed men roaming the streets of Kabul have been told to get out of the city in the next 72 hours or be jailed.

Since the arrival of the northern alliance, Kabul has been bristling with armed men, some carrying rocket launchers and automatic rifles.

Interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai has repeatedly said his government's priority will be security and that they must first expel the men with guns.

Interior Minister Younus Qanooni says the order took effect Tuesday night.

The only men who will be allowed to carry weapons will be the police, all of whom will be in uniform. There will be exceptions made for Cabinet ministers' bodyguards.

Each bodyguard will be issued with an identification card, which they will have to produce on demand or risk arrest.

Armed soldiers have been told to return to their barracks. However, some of their military compounds, like Bala-e-Hisar, Sher Pul and Qul-e-Urdu, are in the heart of Kabul.

However, last month's UN-brokered agreement, setting up the interim administration, called for the withdrawal of all military personnel from Kabul.

International observers say that means the military barracks in the city have to be emptied of soldiers but Mr Qanooni says the barracks will stay because they have been there for decades.

He also criticised the UN for not giving more toward the development of a police force. Qanooni said Afghanistan needs a national force of about 20,000 drawn from every province but they have no money, training or logistical support.