Fighting in northern Afghanistan

The United Nations says there's been fresh fighting between the forces of rival warlords in northern Afghanistan, leaving about 150 families homeless.

A UN spokesman said the fighting took place south of the main northern town of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday and the clashes had forced three foreign aid workers to evacuate the town of Maimana.

One report quoted a spokesman for the warlord Atta Mohammad as saying his forces had been attacked by those of his rival, Abdul Rashid Dostam, but a truce had now been brokered between them by the Defence Ministry. The UN spokesman said a ban on female aid workers serving in field missions had now been lifted.

The ban was imposed following a recent rape and attacks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service