The new United Nations special envoy to Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, has postponed his trip to the Afghan capital, Kabul.

He was supposed to fly in from Islamabad in neighbouring Pakistan today Sunday, but bad weather has delayed his flight.

The visit has now been rescheduled for Wednesday.

It will be Mr Vendrell's first time in Afghanistan.

He is the seventh envoy in eleven years to try to bring peace to Afghanistan. His predecessor, Lakhdar Brahimi, resigned last October, saying he was bitterly disappointed with the negative attitude of the warring factions. Mr Vendrell said he wanted to consult all the parties.

The Taleban authorities which control ninety per cent of the country say it is essential for the envoy to recognise them as the pre-eminent force if he is to find a solution to the civil war. Mr Vendrell has yet to meet the Aghan opposition led by the former president, Burhanuddin Rabbani.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service