Afghan commander defects over Russians

An Afghan opposition commander who defected last week to the ruling Taleban has said he changed sides because of Russian support for the anti-Taleban alliance.

Commander Mahmoud Surkha told a news conference in Kabul that he had seen Russian military officers and advisors in the ranks of the opposition commander, Ahmad Shah Masood.

Opposition officials deny the presence of foreign advisors.

But they say that as the opposition is the internationally recognized government of Afghanistan, it can seek military aid from any country.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service