Northern Alliance troops have entered the Afghanistan capital of Kabul in defiance of the US-led coalition's request that they should hold back. Early reports suggest the Taliban have now fled the city. With the alliance in control of Kabul and the North and the Taliban in charge of the South, there is a fear in Western circles that the country could now be split.

Defence minister Geoff Hoon yesterday revealed SAS troops had played a significant role in the advance of the Northern Alliance.