Arms ban urged on Afghanistan

A comprehensive arms embargo against all parties

By Greg Barrow at the UN in New York

An international human rights group has called for a comprehensive arms embargo against all warring parties in Afghanistan.

In a new report, Human Rights Watch criticises Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for ignoring current UN sanctions against the Taleban authorities.

It also accuses Russia and Iran of providing military support to the forces of the anti-Taleban Northern Alliance.

The group says the current embargo must be better enforced, and adds that Pakistan's continued support of the Taleban has allowed grave violations against Afghan civilians to continue.

Human Rights Watch describes the UN sanctions as too strongly influenced by the interest of the United States to secure the handover of exiled Saudi billionaire Osama Bin-Laden, who is suspected of orchestrating the 1998 bombing of two US embassies in Africa.