Kabul, Aug 25: Five people were killed and another five were injured in fighting between rival factions near the troubled northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, the United Nations said today.
"The fighting took place last Sunday some 18 km west of Mazar-i-Sharif," UN spokesman David Singh told a news agency.
The area around Mazar-i-Sharif has been plagued by factional fighting in recent months between commanders loyal to Uzbek strongman Abdul Rashid Dostam and his Tajik rival Atta Mohammad.
A UN source in Mazar-i-Sharif told a news agency that a delegation sent by president Hamid Karzai had arrived in the city, where they were to hold talks with Mohammad, Dostam and leaders of the local Hazara parties about the security situation.

Bureau Report