Afghan opposition leader, UN envoy meet in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, April 23 (AFP) - Afghan opposition cammander Ahmad Shah Masood held talks on Monday with the United Nations' special envoy to Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, in the Tajikistan capital Dushanbe, Afghan officials said.

The two-hour closed-door meeting covered "the humanitarian situation for refugees and Taliban plans for an offensive," Afghan ambassador to Tajikistan Said Ibrahim Khikmat said.

No further details on the talks were immediately available.

Masood's faction, headed by President Burhanuddin Rabbani, is still recognised by the UN as Afghanistan's legitimate government but most of the war-torn country is controlled by the hardline Taliban.

The anti-Taliban alliance has accused the Taliban of fielding more foreign mercenaries in its ranks for an imminent offensive against territory held by Masood in the norteast of the country.