New Afghan leader sets out aims

Nine days of negotiation led to a landmark agreement

The man appointed to lead Afghanistan for the next six months has said that the country needs economic opportunities and democratic elections in order to move forward.

Hamid Karzai, an ethnic Pashtun, told the BBC that former Taleban figures could play a role in a future government if the Afghan people wanted them, but that "foreign terrorists" must be expelled and tried.

"Foreign terrorists that have made Afghanistan their base have brought unbelievable suffering to our people and my country.

"They must leave Afghanistan and be taken to justice," he said when asked about Osama Bin Laden, who is accused of masterminding the 11 September attacks on the United States.

Delegates from four Afghan factions agreed on Wednesday to set up a transitional government headed by Mr Karzai after 20 years of war.

The eyes of the world will be on you and you carry a huge responsibility

UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi

United Nations special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi welcomed the agreement, saying the international community would stand by Afghanistan.

"The UN and the entire international community feel a tremendous sense of hope in the knowledge that agreement has been signed here in Bonn," he said.

But he warned that the new government carried a "huge responsibility" and the eyes of the world would be upon it.

"You must live up to your commitment to promote national reconciliation, protect human rights, encourage relations with your neighbours. You must serve your people in a democratic and transparent manner," he said.

Will of the people

Mr Karzai told the BBC that decisions about the type of government the country would have and who it would include must be made by the Afghan people.

Karzai: Currently fighting Taleban near Kandahar

He also said that if local forces could not provide "security in this critical time of transition, then the presence of a UN force would be a good thing".

He was talking by satellite phone from north of the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, where his forces are battling the Taleban for control.

He said he believed Taleban leaders would "transfer power to local tribal chiefs and local clergy ... sooner rather than later".

The Afghan Islamic Press - a Pakistan-based agency close to the Taleban - reported that Taleban representatives had held talks with Mr Karzai about the possible handover of Kandahar. Neither the Taleban nor Mr Karzai have confirmed the report.

The power-sharing council Mr Karzai is to lead will take office on 22 December.

Click here for a guide to the main powerbrokers

BBC correspondents in Kabul say initial reaction amongst people there is one of real delight and relief that the talks appear to have reached a successful conclusion.

Who gets what?

The Northern Alliance - which has controlled Kabul since the Taleban fled last month - will hold a total of 17 of the 30 cabinet posts, including the three most powerful ministries.

UN blueprint

Interim authority to rule for six months

A supreme court to be set up

A 21-member special independent commission to call a traditional assembly, or Loya Jirga

Loya Jirga to elect transitional government

A multinational force to secure Kabul

Delegation head Yunus Qanooni will be interior minister, alliance commander-in-chief General Mohammad Fahim will be in charge of the Defence Ministry and Dr Abdullah Abdullah will retain the foreign affairs portfolio.

Two women are among those named. One of them, Sima Samar, will be one of Mr Karzai's five vice-chairs. The UN has said the new authority must guarantee freedom of expression and women's rights.

King's role

The agreement includes plans to set up a special commission to convene a Loya Jirga, or traditional grand assembly, to be opened by former King Zahir Shah.

Afghans need the new government to succeed

The interim administration will rule for six months until this assembly is convened.

The assembly will then elect a transitional government to rule for not more than two years until elections are held.

Another assembly will be set up to adopt a constitution within 18 months of the creation of the transitional authority.

Peacekeepers

The agreement also proposes requesting a multinational peacekeeping force for Kabul, but does not stipulate the force's size or duration.

The force could be progressively expanded to cover urban centres and other areas as appropriate, the text of the agreement says.

The conclusion of the talks is a big fillip for a gathering of major international aid donors taking place in Berlin.

Big donor countries kept up pressure on the Afghan factions by warning them that billions of dollars in reconstruction aid depended on a deal being reached.