A spokesman for the United Nations who Sunday evening had assured that everything was ready for the timely opening of the ELJ on Monday told journalists that unspecified "technical and logistic difficulties" had delayed the ceremonies until at least Tuesday.

But sources in Kabol said clashing views between the pro-Zaher Shah camp and some members of the Northern Alliance over who should lead the country during the 18 months transitional period was at the origin of the delay.

"The rumours immediately met with strong reaction from opponents, most of them belonging to the former Northern Alliance, a coalition dominated by Tajik ethnics that played a leading role alongside the United Stated in booting out the Taleban", Mr. Mostofi added.

To add to the confusion, Mr. Borhaneddin Rabbani, the former Iran-backed president who was ousted from the power by the Pakistan-supported fundamentalist Taleban announced that if he were considered by the delegates at the ELJ as the future Head of the transitional government, he would not let the post to any other candidate.

To diffuse the situation, both Mr. Zalmay Khalilzad, the Afghan-born US’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Hamed Karzai, the present interim Premier who is backed by Washington as well as the United Nations and the Northern Alliance were feverishly meeting with Zaher Shah and his opponents to try to work out a compromise that would satisfy the two sides.

Addressing more than 300 journalists, Mr. Khalilzad stressed that the 87 years-old former King -- who was present alongside Mr. Karzai --, did not want to restore monarchy, would accept any role delegates at the Loya Jirga would consider for him and also would gladly support the continuation in power of Mr. Karzai.

He indirectly confirmed that the domination of Tajiks from the Northern Alliance in the present government, where they hold all key posts of Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs, had been a source of dissatisfaction to other Ethnics, mostly the Pashtoon, which forms the majority, expressed the hopes to see that "unbalance" be "corrected" in the future administration.

"This statement and clarification from the former king is very important in appeasing fears of the Northern Alliance commanders, but at the same time it might trigger anger and frustration from supporters of Zaher Shah, thinking that he had been humiliated", commented Mr. Zaher Tanin, BBC's Persian and Pashtoon services bureau chief in Kabol.

For his part, Mr. Karzai warmly and respectfully thanked the former king, describing him as "the respected father" of the Afghans whose presence in the country would "undoubtedly" help fostering national unity, peace and reconciliation among all Afghan ethnics and religions".

Informed sources in Kabol told Iran Press Service that the Northern Alliance was also ready for some compromise, including a symbolic role for Zaher Shah as the "Baba", or father of the nation in the one hand and reducing their weight by handing over some posts to other factions provided Mr. Karzai be named as the future Head of State.

Both Zaher Shah and Hamed Karzai are Pashtoon, but speak fluent Dari, or Farsi, the dominant language in neighbouring Iran.

The differences reflect an historical north-south divide in the country between the mostly ethnic Tajiks, Uzbeks and other minorities in the north and the dominant Pashtoons of the south, as Padsha Khan, one of many warlords, has warned that Afghanistan will again descend into conflict if the King is not reinstated as the nation's leader.

For weeks, Afghan communities throughout the country have been choosing delegates to the Emergency Loya Jirga (ELJ), while faction leaders involved in nearly a quarter-century of internal conflict have been feverishly trying to make backroom deals with each other.

The 1.501 delegates sent to the UN-supervised ELJ would have to nominate a new Head of government for a period of 18 months, and odds are that Mr. Karzai would succeed himself.

"This is a great victory for democracy and human rights in Afghanistan, where until now, women had no real political rights, even under the rule of the Communists" an Iranian expert on Afghanistan observed.

A security cordon of armed vehicles has been placed around the Loya Jirga site and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), warning Islamic militants might try to disrupt the assembly, will patrol the city and surrounding areas in helicopters.

According to complaints lodged with the Loya Jirga Commission, some local militia commanders have used threats or bribery to ensure their representatives are chosen.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch has said in a report that Afghan warlords tried to subvert the process of forming a democratic government in Kabol, adding that tacit support for some warlords by the US-led military force has inadvertently strengthened their influence in some regions.

The group also said that warlords had developed ties with the Taleban as well as with the Islamist movement led by warlord and former Prime Minister Golboddin Hekmatyar.

In his interview with "IRNA" carried out in Islamabad, Tanai also pointed out what he called "flaws" in enlisting members of Loya Jirga and stressed the need for "dislodging" all the warlords occupying some provinces on the basis of their strength and piles of arms and ammunition.

Eight people have been killed in the delegate selection process, even though the Commission says there is evidence of political motivation in only one of the murders. ENDS LOYA JIRGA DELAYED 10602