81.   The fighting involves the Taliban Islamic militia and the combined forces of Uzbek warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum and ex-Afghan governent military strongman Ahmed Shah Masood.

82.   The council included Dostam, Khalili, ousted goverment military strongman Ahmad Shah Masood and Pir Sayed Ahmed Gailani, leader of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan.

83.   The faction claimed Khad was allied to the Shura Nazar forces of former defence minister Ahmed Shah Masood, military strongman of Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani.

84.   The official also warned that the government of beleaguered President Burhanuddin Rabbani and his military strongman Ahmed Shah Massood would strike back hard if further attacked.

85.   The military however refused to publish the results of the poll and in November military strongman General Sani Abacha seized power from a brief civilian administration.