The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed an agreement among anti-Taliban Afghans to form an interim government but put off the contentious issue of a multinational security force.
The resolution, prepared by Britain and France, also declares the council's willingness to take action in support of Afghanistan's new transitional ruling council as long as the Afghan parties fulfill their commitments.
The United Nations succeeded in brokering an agreement yesterday among anti-Taliban Afghans that calls for a 30-member interim authority to govern the war-devastated country for six months, beginning on December 22.
The resolution, adopted by a 15-0 vote, says that the interim arrangements are intended as a first step towards the establishment of a broadbased, gender sensitive, multiethnic and fully representative government. It asks donors to assist with the rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction of Afghanistan and for Afghan groups to assure their safety.
One key factor in the accord, negotiated in Bonn, Germany, is a request to the Security Council to authorize an international force that would provide protection in and around the capital Kabul, and could be expanded to other cities. Talks on the multinational force, are expected to take another week, with the US military having doubts about their quick deployment amid its war to root out the al Qaeda network.