Afghanistan: Najibullah's Siren Song

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In the standoff between the government of President Najibullah and ^ Afghanistan's mujahedin, the beleaguered regime in Kabul is now clearly placing its hopes on a settlement brokered by the United Nations. Last week Najibullah tried to give that process a jog by publicly reiterating his longstanding offer to step out of the presidency and renounce any future political role as soon as a neutral interim government is formed under U.N. auspices. Said the President on national television: "I have agreed to transfer all authority to the transitional government."

Najibullah's latest concession to the peace process came shortly after a major mujahedin faction claimed that it had captured the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, site of a government air base; Kabul denied the claim. Hard- line mujahedin, ignoring the President's offer, vowed to fight on.