BBC News Online: World: South Asia

UN urges peacekeeping force for Afghanistan

US marines are operating in southern Afghanistan

Mr Guehenno, who has been in London for talks with senior British government officials, said he hoped at least part of the force could be in place when the new interim government takes office in Afghanistan, in 15 days time.

The UK's Independent newspaper said that Britain could lead the peacekeeping force if no other European nation volunteered for the role.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Britain would be "willing to play its part" by making troops available.

Contributors to decide

There has been speculation that the international force would be drawn largely from Muslim countries.

He said the multinational force for East Timor would be a model for the Afghan operation.

Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia and Bangladesh have been named as possible contributors to the force, though it is thought none of Afghanistan's neighbours are likely to participate.

Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy are also said to have offered to take part but none of these countries has yet volunteered to lead the force.

The United States, Britain and France already have troops deployed in Afghanistan, and Germany has a force of just under 4,000 on standby.

UN authorisation

Mr Guehenno said the force could be deployed first in the capital Kabul then expanded to other major city centres.

The UN Security Council delayed a decision to authorise the force to support the agreement on an interim administration, signed in Bonn on Wednesday and endorsed by the council on Thursday.

But UN officials have said the council could give the force the go-ahead within days of a proposal being presented by contributing countries.