The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has appointed a new special representative for Afghanistan.

He is Francesc Vendrell, a Spaniard, who has been a political affairs official at the UN.

He replaces Lakhdar Brahimi, a former Algerian foreign minister who resigned in October saying the Afghan ruling Taleban leaders and the country's neighbours were making a mockery of peace talks between the Taleban and the opposition northern alliance.

Mr Annan has said that he wants to bolster the UN political presence in Afghanistan and restart the peace talks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service