Afghanistan's former king, Zahir Shah, has turned down an offer to lead a six-month UN-sponsored administration and will instead preside over a loya jirga, council of elders, which will decide the future shape of a two-year transitional UN administration for the war-torn country.

Bonn talks are expected to decide the composition of a 29-man interim government to take control of Kabul whilst the UN appears to be close to convincing the Northern Alliance to accept a Western-led multinational force to guarantee Afghanistan's security.