Afghanistan's Northern Alliance has demanded a 10-day adjournment of power-sharing talks, but the UN and rival groups have refused, delegates said today as intensive talks continued in Germany.
Two representatives of former king Zahir Shah said the Northern Alliance's delegation chief Younus Qanooni had requested to return to Kabul for final consultations, but they insisted that the talks had not stalled.

“Talks are still continuing. We are in intensive talks, and it will continue overnight. We are trying not to leave here without reaching an agreement,” Hamid Sidiq, a spokesman for the former king said.
Another royal delegate, Pacha Khan Dzadran, described the Northern Alliance As the main hurdle to the complete agreement. “They had asked more time, but we refused it,” Dzadran said.
A UN insider also said the United Nations had also turned down the request for a delay, “The United Nations has told them to call Kabul, but things have to be resolved here in Bonn,” said the source, who asked not to be named.

Bureau Report