1.   The floor had mottled dark brown lino but sported an unexpectedly cheerful Afghan rug.

2.   Elsewhere, many foreigners scoured the bazaars and grocery stores for soft drinks, chocolate, wrapping paper and last-minute presents of Afghan rugs and lamps.

3.   In a teashop across the road, customers lounge on Afghan rugs as they are entertained by popular songs cranked out at top volume from a Japanese cassette player.

4.   The Talibans have overturned the Afghan rug and the United Nations is choking on the dust.

5.   On a visit to downtown Sedarat Prison where the two are being held, an AFP correspondent saw that a new Afghan rug had been placed in their cell.