Russians lead aid mission

The Russians have flown 12 giant aid planes to Kabul to begin a large humanitarian mission by agreement with the Americans and the Northern Alliance faction in charge of the Afghanistan capital.

At the same time Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is to announce that British troops are to be taken off 48 hours standby to go to Afghanistan.

The 12 Ilyushin 76 transport planes carried emergency aid, advisers and diplomats. A team of Russian Army sappers was also on board. It will clear mines from the road from Bagram airport to a new humanitarian centre near Kabul.

By the end of the week the Russians will have 88 people working in their embassy, which was closed in 1992 when Mujahideen forces overthrew the regime of Russiansupported President Najibullah. He was hanged when the Taliban took the capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the operation had been carried out with the full co-operation of the United States and the Northern Alliance.

With the Russians now taking the lead, there is no role for British ground forces, apart from teams of SAS and SBS assisting US forces. Even the SBS party at Bagram is likely to be withdrawn soon.