21.   Syed Hussain Alami Balkhi, who belongs to a pro-Rabbani Shiite faction called Hezb-i-Wahdat, has been appointed commerce minister.

22.   The anti-Taliaban alliance also includes pro-Iranian shiite faction of Hezb-i-Wahdat headed by Karim Khalili.

23.   The anti-Taliban alliance also includes a minority Shiite faction and ethnic-Pashtun fighters in eastern Afghanistan.

24.   The Al-Khair mosque massacre was believed to have been in retaliation for the killing of the head of a rival Shiite faction on Sunday, police said.

25.   The chief of a Shiite faction was shot dead by unidentified gunmen here overnight, police and party officials said Friday.