After the socialists took power in the late 1970s, Afghanistan became a battleground for the government and the Mujahideen guerrillas, originally traditionalist Muslim tribesmen.

From 1979 the government received support from thousands of Soviet troops as they tried to exert authority over the country; the guerrillas in turn received support from the United States, Britain, China and neighbouring Pakistan.

When the defeated Soviet troops left in 1989, President Najibullah was left in power. But he was forced to resign in 1992 by his own party following military defeats. Within a few days the Mujahideen groups took control of the country - but instead of peace, fresh fighting broke out as the factions fell out.

Taleban

The Taleban emerged in around 1994. A militant Sunni-Muslim movement, it grew out of student radicalism in the refugee camps and villages, advocating extreme Islamic practises. They believe in strict adherence to Islamic codes including severe restrictions on the role of women.

Taleban's attitude to women faces international criticism

The Taleban was backed by around 25,000 fighters and the movement's power rose as its forces gained victories in the southern provinces.

In September 1996, after a rapid advance, the Taleban seized the capital Kabul and executed former president Najibullah. They appeared to be an invincible force on the brink of taking control of the whole country.

Northern opposition

But fighting continued in the country with armies led by former Defence Minister Ahmad Shah Massoud and by General Abdul Rashid Dostum.

Mr Massoud is the leader of ethnic Tajiks while Mr Dostum, a former General from the communist period, leads northern ethnic Uzbeks.

Their opposition is based on ethnic and religious differences. The north-west is ethnically more Tajik and Uzbek, and most of the Taleban are ethnic Pashtus.

Meanwhile the outside world continues to seek to exert influence on the outcome of the violence.

Iran is extremely hostile to the Taleban's Sunni Islam, while Pakistan is a strong supporter.

The US, motivated largely by Iran's opposition, has had some contact with the Taleban while Russia and the central Asian states are concerned at their rise to power and the strict Islam which they profess, fearing that it could spread to their populations.

Taleban taste defeat

In Spring 1997 fighting centred around the north of the country and the town of Mazar-i-Sharif -.the Taleban was eventually forced to retreat, considered their first real defeat.

Fighting has intensified during the last couple of weeks

In early 1998, the civil war seemed to have reached stalemate with neither the Taleban nor its opponents able to take control of the entire country. That raised hopes that the sides were ready to end the war.

However, peace talks between the two sides, held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad a month ago, collapsed and were suspended indefinitely.

Both sides blamed the other for the break-down, but United Nations mediators said that they hope they will be able to get the two parties together again soon.