Northern Alliance troops today captured Kabul after Taliban forces fled the Afghan capital overnight.

Following four days of swift advances, the Northern Alliance moved into the city in trucks and jeeps loaded withsoldiers, armed with rifles and rocket launchers.

There were reports of Northern Alliance fighters shooting dead Taliban stragglers.

The U.S. had urged the opposition to stay out of the capital until a new, broad-based government could be formed toreplace the Taliban.

But alliance officials said the unexpected Taliban evacuation made it necessary for them to enter the city tomaintain public order.

The last time Northern Alliance troops took the capital in 1992, some 50,000 civilians died in the aftermath.

Already, there are reports of Northern Alliance massacres.

At least five Pakistanis and two Arabs have been killed in Kabul. In Mazar-i-Sharif, which the Taliban fled fourdays ago, the Northern Alliance is reported to have systematically massacred hundreds of pro-Taliban Pakistanis.

Guest:

• Luke Harding, reporter with the The Guardian.

Related link:

• The Guardian