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Afghan Factions Honoring Ceasefire

18 August 2004 -- An Afghan militia commander and a spokesman for the governor of Afghanistan's Herat Province say their forces are honoring a ceasefire that came into place yesterday.

Militia commander Amanullah Khan today said his forces are honoring the agreement. Sayed Nasir Alawi, a spokesman for Herat Governor Mohammad Ismail Khan, today said forces loyal to Khan are also observing the ceasefire.

U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad helped broker the ceasefire after the Herat governor requested his help. Yesterday, Khalilzad said a "significant number" of people were killed in days of intense fighting.

Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for an urgent increase in international forces in Afghanistan to combat a worsening security situation there. Annan expressed hope additional NATO troops would arrive in time for Afghanistan's 9 October presidential election.

(AP/Reuters)

Copyright (c) 2004. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org