"Today the forces of the Northern Alliance entered Qandahar'', Mr. Hekmat told reporters, adding: "Our forces went in with the support of the local population which was rebelling".

However, the report could not be independently confirmed but the British news agency Reuters quoted one tribal leader saying that the Taleban had thrown a defensive circle around the city and would fight off any attempt to capture it.

Anti-Taleban Pashtoon commanders also said there was street fighting in Qandahar and, although the Taleban still control some neighborhoods, their fighters were fleeing in droves.

With Kabol "liberated" by the Northern Alliance with the help of the Americans, attention has shifted to diplomatic arena.

A close friend of the late Ahmad Shah Mas’ood, who was killed on 9 September by two Arab terrorists dispatched by Mr. Ben Laden, Mr. Deqqatti said the Capital was calm and the Northern Alliance’s police had the situation under control.

"There had been some looting, but it was more the work of hungry people", he told RFI, adding that the Alliance’s president, Professor Borhaneddin Rabbani had decided to delay his coming to Kabol.

He was expected to return to Kabol Wednesday to declare the capital city free of the Taleban.

"I urge you to safeguard life, property, and also be vigilant in preventing foreign designs from inflicting more harm on our people", the 87 years-old former Monarch said in a statement, a copy of which was released late Wednesday.

He also urged that the U.S.-led bombing of Afghanistan end soon.

"The developments of the past few days have shown the need for solidarity, unity and cooperation for the establishment of law and order", Zaher Shah said.

In his statement, Zaher Shah also said the proposed emergency meeting of tribal leaders was the only way to achieve a solution to the Afghan conflict that respects the free will of the Afghan people.

"With God's help and the cooperation of our citizens, this political process will be completed", the statement said.

Officials say a UN conference with all Afghan parties, including for the first time some Afghan women, could take place in the United Arab Emirates within days.

But some diplomats said the conference might be held in Geneva instead because of objections from Iran, which has a long-standing dispute with the UAE over sovereignty of three Persian Gulf islands claimed by the Sheikhdom.

The UN will also be considering how to form a security force for Afghanistan.

Mr Brahimi warned the UN on Tuesday that without "genuine and lasting" security, a new government would be meaningless.

Mr. Xavier Solana, the European Union’s "super minister" for Foreign and security affairs had suggested the creation of a multi-nation force made of Muslim soldiers coming from Islamic countries.

Brahimi’s plan calls for the convention of an all-Afghan provisional council to be followed by a first "Loya Jirga" that would name a transitory government made of people outside the warring factions.

This council would eventually set up a transitional administration, to last up to two years, and draft a constitution for a new government.

Afghans have been trying for more than a decade to organize a Loya Jirga without success.

Iran and Pakistan, Afghanistan’s two major neighbours that supports opposite sides in the war-torn country are also backing the Loya Jirga.

But an Iranian expert criticised Mr. Brahimi’s plan for being "too vague" and "taking too much time to implement in such a complex situation".