President Rakhmonov of Tajikistan has agreed to take no action for twenty days on a controversial law passed by parliament to outlaw religious parties.

Mr Rakhmonov and the leader of the opposition Islamic Revival Party, Said Abdullah Noori, agreed to set up a commission of both government and opposition representatives to report back within that time on the disputed legislation.

Correspondents say the manoeuvre has gained time for both leaders to find a way out of the grave crisis in the peace process caused by the legislation.

The opposition's participation in elections this year was one of the key elements in last year's accord ending five years of civil war.