BBC News Online: World: South Asia

UN team assess Afghan poppy eradication

An international team from the United Nations Drug Control Programme has gone to Afghanistan to assess efforts by the Taleban to eradicate the cultivation of the opium poppy.

Earlier this year the Taleban said opium production had been virtually wiped-out after being banned by them last year.

They have been demanding international recognition of the effectiveness of their ban.

The UN Drug Control Programme said there had been a dramatic reduction in production.

Analysts say drought has also been a significant factor in the reduction.

Until 1999 Afghanistan was the world's biggest producer of opium

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service