Rival Afghan factions meeting in Germany reached agreement early today on a UN document to establish an interim post-Taliban government, but had not yet decided who would fill the posts, a UN spokesman said.
"At 45 minutes past midnight the session was adjourned after the delegates agreed to all the provisions of the amended text," UN spokesman Mr Ahmad Fawzi said.
The dominant Northern Alliance had also finally submitted a list of candidates for the 29-member interim government, and the delegates from the four factions present would meet later today to discuss names.
The agreed UN text is a blueprint for an interim government to start rebuilding the shattered country for about six months until a loya jirga, or traditional assembly, is held.
The text as agreed calls for the 87-year-old former king to participate in the loya jirga rather than play a symbolic role in opening it, as the original draft had proposed.
The loya jirga will elect a transitional authority to govern for about 18 months until a constitution is drawn up and a permanent government elected.
A week after talks began in Petersberg Castle, delegates finalised the details proposed in a UN draft agreement.
The agreement makes provision for a 29-member cabinet, a supreme court and a group to organise a loya jirga, a meeting of ethnic groups that will elect a provisional government and parliament next March.
Despite the dispute over names, some clear favourites are emerging to head the interim authority.
One of the favourites is Mr Hamid Karzai, the southern Afghanistan leader of the Pashtuns, the country's largest ethnic group comprising over 40 per cent of the population. "Of all the suggested candidates, we give Karzai the advantage," said Mr Asam Dadfar, a Northern Alliance delegate yesterday.
Last week the UN relayed a telephone call from Mr Karzai who is currently negotiating the capitulation of the Taliban in Kandahar. He urged the delegates to reach an agreement.
The Northern Alliance has said it would also accept as leader Mr Sattar Sirat, leader of the Rome delegation and the nephew of the former king. Another acceptable candidate to them would be Mr Sajed Ahmed Gailini of the Pashtun exile group from Pakistan.
Observers said matters had been delayed by Northern Alliance delegates checking decisions with their leader in Kabul, President Rabbani. --(additional reporting Reuters)
