The UN special representative for Afghanistan aims to hold the first meeting of all the Afghan political factions next week, probably in the United Arab Emirates.
UN sources said Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi was keen to hold the initial meeting at a neutral venue, rather than Kabul, because the latter would give an advantage to the Northern Alliance in talks on forming a government.
His deputy, Mr Francesc Vendrell, is expected to arrive in Kabul at the weekend, security conditions permitting, to re-establish a political and humanitarian presence on behalf of the UN.
The US and Britain were reported to be approaching "dozens" of countries to contribute military personnel to be deployed rapidly in Afghanistan. They would constitute an international presence which, in the words of Security Council Resolution 1378, would "support efforts to ensure the safety and security of areas of Afghanistan under Taliban control".
However it would be a "coalition of the willing" rather than an official UN peacekeeping operation. Some of these units would be protecting diplomatic and humanitarian personnel, including Mr Vendrell.
As a Security Council member, Ireland sought, with others, to ensure that resolution 1378 had a sharp focus on the humanitarian plight of the Afghan population and highlighted the need for all Afghan forces "to refrain from acts of reprisal". The resolution was approved by the council on Thursday.
Meanwhile, in the first concrete indication that the US war against terrorism could spread beyond Afghanistan, the Defence Secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, said the US would pursue Osama bin Laden even if he fled Afghanistan. "I think we will find him, either there or in another country," he said.
A Pentagon spokeswoman said that US air strikes on two buildings in Afghanistan killed some senior leaders of the Taliban militia and the al-Qaeda terrorist network. "One of our primary objectives over the last few days has been to go after command-and-control - Taliban and al-Qaeda leadership," said Ms Victoria Clarke.
The strikes on buildings near Kabul on Tuesday and Kandahar on Wednesday had resulted in the deaths of senior members of both groups. "There was some senior leadership . . . but no evidence that it was Osama bin Laden," she added. Asked whether bin Laden was still alive, Ms Clarke replied: "We've heard nothing to indicate otherwise."
There were conflicting reports from Kandahar, the home of the Taliban, as to who was in control. "Nobody knows exactly what is happening in Kandahar," said Sher Badahur, a geologist in Quetta, Pakistan, who is keeping in telephone contact with some in the city. "Everything is changing so quickly."
Pakistan moved troops and tanks to its border with Afghanistan, which officials said had been sealed in case bin Laden tried to evade his US pursuers.