UN official briefs Tehran on Afghanistan

The senior United Nations official in Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, has been holding talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran, praising their efforts to help the Afghan people and saying they have an important role to play in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Mr Brahimi briefed President Mohammed Khatami on preparations for a grand council or loya jirga which will convene in June to choose a new government for the country.

President Khatami said Iran would support any steps being taken in the interest of the Afghan people.

Correspondents say that since the fall of the Taleban, Iran's pro-reform leaders have been keen to reassure the international community that Tehran had no desire to undermine Afghanistan's interim leadership.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service