UN warns of Afghan extremist dangers

The United Nations has warned that extremists may be using Afghanistan as a base to destabilise other states in the region.

After a closed-door briefing, Security Council members issued a statement saying they were disturbed by incidents involving the entry of terrorists from Afghanistan to three Central Asian states.

No countries were named, but there has been an increase in rebel activity in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The council also called for an end to the continuing fighting in Afghanistan.

The Security Council President Hasmy Agam from Malaysia said it was totally unacceptable that the ruling Taleban had ignored earlier demands by the Council for peace and the establishment of a broad-based government. Although the Taleban captured the Afghan capital, Kabul, four years ago, the former government still retains Afghanistan's seat at the United Nations.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service