Former Afghan King Mohammad Zahir Shah and forces in Afghanistan opposed to the Taliban have reached an agreement aimed at ousting the country’s rulers.
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Former Afghan King Mohammad Zahir Shah
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Under the terms of the accord, the anti-Taliban coalition called for the convening of a traditional grand council of Afghan leaders.
The council would then convene a grand assembly or Loya Jirga, made up of representatives of all Afghanistan's ethnic and tribal groupings. This would elect a head of state and transitional government, the parties said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear when or where the Loya Jirgawould take place or whether it was dependent on the Taliban being ousted from power.
Western diplomats and many Afghans say that Zahir Shah, who has lived in Italy in exile since 1973, is the only figure with the authority to assemble a broad anti-Taliban front. He reigned for 40 years and brought relative peace and prosperity to his country.
The Northern Alliance is the main force still fighting the Kabul regime but controls less than 10 percent of Afghan territory.
Afghan opposition leaders, including a delegation from the Northern Alliance, arrived in Rome last week to discuss convening a meeting of elders to decide on a new government.
Afghan opposition forces are being courted by Western diplomats as the United States prepares to punish the Taliban for giving sanctuary to Osama bin Laden - chief suspect behind the September 11th strikes on the US.
A delegation of U.S. congressmen met the king at the weekend and pledged him their full support.
"I can tell you in Congress we know what you are doing and if you help us to overthrow this Taliban tyranny and bring to justice bin Laden we will do right by you this time," said Republican congressman Mr Dana Rohrabacher.
"Congress will help you to rebuild your society," he told the meeting of Afghan leaders in Rome.
However, some diplomats secretly fear Zahir Shah may be too frail to assume a position of leadership.
He was to have hosted a dinner for the Northern Alliance delegation on Sunday night, but his son said the meal was cancelled because his father felt unwell.
A Loya Jirgais a particularly tiring event and can last many days or even weeks as tribal chiefs, spiritual leaders and military commanders try to sort out their problems.