Deal Done, Formalities Today
Tuesday, December 4, 2001
Indian Express

BONN, Germany/NEAR KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Source
A Senior member of the Northern Alliance at the UN-sponsored Afghan talks here said that an interim Afghan administration would assume power on December 22.

Ahmad Wali Masood, brother of the assassinated legendary alliance commander Ahmad Shah Masood, also said he expected the four Afghan groups would reach agreement on composition of the government later today. ‘‘Twenty-second of December,’’ he said when asked when the interim administration was expected to fill the political vacuum left by the Taliban’s flight from Kabul.

Earlier today, diplomatic sources indicated that new interim government for Afghanistan was expected to be installed in Kabul next week. Diplomats observing the talks said they expect a formal signing ceremony for the power-sharing deal, which aims to pave the way for a democratic Afghanistan, to be signed at the Petersberg talks tomorrow.
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2001 © Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.

Dan