Mehrabuddin Mastan, a high-ranking representative of the Northern Alliance, has admitted that the growing resistance of the Taliban troops disrupted plans of overthrowing the Taliban regime, the Tass news agency reported. "We hoped that the Taliban troops would pull out from Kabul after the beginning of U.S. bombing raids, but this did not happen, which made the situation far more complicated," he told a France Presse correspondent.
According to his information, Tass said, Burhanuddin Rabbani, the officially recognized leader of Afghanistan, is now holding consultations with his advisers about whether or not it would be reasonable to send his envoy to Turkey for meeting there representatives of Zahir Shah, former King of Afghanistan.

He believes the meeting may take place in Afghanistan for discussing the makeup of the "supreme council of national unity of Afghanistan," Tass reported. It is expected to include 100 representatives of various forces. Bureau Report