DRUGS GROUP IN AFGHAN EXIT ORDER

The Afghan government has ordered the closure of all offices of a
group that wants to promote new ways of dealing with the global drugs problem.

The Interior Ministry said the Senlis Council, had been "confusing
farmers" and had been a factor in the increase in poppy cultivation.

Senlis has suggested the legal use of Afghan opium for medical purposes.

A spokesman for Senlis said it had not received any formal
notification that its offices were to be closed.

He denied its activities had increased poppy cultivation.

Correspondents say there has been tension over a recent council
report blaming the government for a failure to stop farmers growing poppies.

Afghanistan is building a new counter-narcotics police force but
reports say the force only has personnel in nine of 34 provinces.

Only six provinces are reported to be opium-free.