Afghanistan's Taleban rulers have announced a power-sharing arrangement with tribes in three provinces. This follows an agreement between Afghanistan's former king and the anti-Taleban Northern Alliance to set up their own transitional government.
The accord between King Mohammad Zahir Shah and the Alliance was reached Monday at their meeting in Rome. It provides for the calling of a grand assembly of representatives of all of Afghanistan's ethnic and tribal groupings to select a government.
In a surprise move Monday, the Taleban, for the first time in its five-year rule, agreed to share power with tribal elders in Paktika, Paktia and Khost provinces. The three provinces are home to past supporters of the king who is trying to set up a broad-based government to replace Taleban rule. The 86-year-old former monarch, who has lived in exile since 1973, has become the focus of efforts for a united anti-Taleban front. He told a group of U.S. congressmen Sunday that if the Taleban is removed, he envisions a two-year transition period with an interim leader overseeing a move to free elections.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.