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Afghan Ex-King, Anti-Taliban Group Reach Accord
Monday, October 01, 2001
(12:23 PM ET)
By Crispian Balmer / Reuters

Western diplomats believe the former king, Mohammad Zahir Shah, who reigned for 40 years and brought relative peace and prosperity to Afghanistan, is the only figure with enough authority to assemble a broad and moderate front to replace the Taliban.

ROME, Italy -- Reuters
The former king of Afghanistan struck a deal Monday with the country's main opposition force, the Northern Alliance, designed to oust the ruling Taliban and establish a moderate government in Kabul.

Under the terms of the ground-breaking accord, drawn up in a bid to end more than two decades of war, the two parties said they had established a "Supreme Council for National Unity."

This would shortly convene a traditional grand assembly of Afghan leaders -- the so-called Loya Jirga.

"I am convinced that the agreement we have reached today will be the start of a new era for Afghanistan," said Younus Qanooni, the head of the Northern Alliance delegation.

The Loya Jirga, which groups elders, tribal chiefs and spiritual leaders, would elect a new head of state and establish a transitional government ahead of free elections.
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Dan