'Ex-king to rally Afghans'

Rival factions trying to thrash out a deal on a broad-based government in Afghanistan are today meeting for their first full session amid hopes that the country's 87-year-old former monarch may be accepted by all as a temporary figurehead.

So far, discussions in Germany have been informal; now the tough talking starts. Foreign diplomats said the 38 Afghan delegates gathered in Bonn seemed ready to accept ex-king Mohammad Zahir Shah as a transitional figurehead, but delegates said he could not return as head of state.

"There is convergence but I believe it is not total," said Enrico de Maio, Italy's special envoy on Afghanistan. Referring to Iran, he added: "There is a neighbouring country that is not very calm about this."

A Northern Alliance spokesman said: "There are no points of difference but they have not got down to the details yet." The United Nations hopes that by the weekend, the delegates can agree a blueprint for democratic transition, starting with a small executive council, followed by an appointed legislature next spring and free elections in about two years.

The talks involve a delegation from the Northern Alliance, whose military victories have given them the upper hand politically, a group representing the former king, exiles based in Peshawar, Pakistan, and the socalled Cyprus Group backed by Iran

UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said: "The most pressing issue is to get a transfer of power from the de facto power in Kabul."

Western nations hope the promise of billions in reconstruction aid will hurry agreement.