Brahimi en route to New York to brief Security Council on multinational force

The United Nations chief envoy for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, was en route to New York today to brief the Security Council on a UN-mandated multinational security force, while his deputy continued talks with Afghan leaders in preparation for the country's new interim government.

Mr. Brahimi, Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, is expected back in the region sometime next week, UN officials said.

In Kabul, Deputy Special Representative Francesc Vendrell was scheduled to hold a series of meetings, including with Hamid Karzai, the designated head of the new interim administration.