Northern Alliance Advised

UNITED NATIONS – The countries bordering Afghanistan have called on the opposition forces which captured the city of Mazar-i-Sharif to refrain from reprisals against supporters of the Taliban regime. In a statement, officials of the so-called “six-plus-two group” meeting here welcomed “the reported issuance of general amnesty by the United Front in Mazar-i-Sharif.” The front, also known as the Northern Alliance, claimed to have taken the city without a fight on Friday. The statement was read by Lakhdar Brahimi, special representative of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Afghanistan. Brahimi was also among the people who participated in the meeting. The group, which also includes Russia and the United States, urged all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to “observe fully the principles and requirements of international humanitarian and human rights law.” AFP Ends