Moderate's 'ousting' fuels talk of a split

Reports of splits in the highest echelons of the Taliban increased yesterday with conflicting claims about the whereabouts of the regime's foreign minister, Abdul Wakil Muttawakil.

In Rome, Mullah Muttawakil was said to have been in touch with the entourage of the former Afghan king, Zahir Shah, according to a royal aide.

Western diplomats have confirmed reports that the Mullah had contacted Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, to appeal for a slowdown in bombing to allow moderates to reconsider demands that they hand over Osama bin Laden.

He was rumoured to have travelled secretly to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for talks with generals from the country's spy agency, Interservices Intelligence, hours before General Powell's visit over the weekend.

But Afghans close to the Taliban denied these reports and said that the minister, who is a moderate, had fallen from power and gone into hiding after losing an internal power struggle with Arab allies of Mr bin Laden. If true, it would seem that hardliners within the administration have gained the upper hand.

The Afghan sources said the purpose of Mullah Muttawakil's journey to Pakistan was unclear, and that he could no longer be regarded as the country's foreign minister.

But there was also speculation that even the higher ranks of the Taliban may be unaware of the actions of some sections of its leadership.

A foreign official who has met Mullah Muttawakil said that he was more likely to have resigned than been forced from power. "He was one of those who was working to rebuild Afghanistan, not the enthusiastic nutters who wanted to subvert the Arab world," the official said. "He was outmanoeuvred in this tussle with the Arabs ... the chances are that he's lying low in Pakistan."