OPIUM BAN AT RISK

AFGHAN tribal leaders have launched their toughest challenge yet to interim
Afghan leader Hamid Karzai, warning him not to destroy a vast poppy crop
that is almost ready to harvest.

Tribal leaders and commanders from Helmand, Paktia and Nangahar provinces
demanded "leniency" in implementing the policy because so many farmers were
unwilling to destroy a lucrative crop, a senior government official said
yesterday.

The challenge highlights Mr Karzai's lack of support in Afghan society. He
needs to curb opium production to win the backing of the international
community but doing so would undercut his position at home, where local
warlords still rule much of the country.

Interior Minister Yunus Qanooni said his ministry was determined to
continue its effort. "There are some people who opposed our plans" to
eradicate the harvest "and don't want us to force them to do it", Mr
Qanooni said.

"But the UN and the international community demand that we take strong
action against drug trafficking."

Two years ago, Afghanistan supplied 70 per cent of the world's opium, says
the CIA, until the former Taliban leadership cut cultivation.

After the Taliban regime collapsed six months ago, many farmers who had
once cultivated poppies rushed back into the fields.

Last week, the Karzai Government said it would pay farmers about $1100 per
hectare to destroy their poppy crops.

It vowed to send police to tear up the plants if farmers refused to comply.

Many doubt the Government can implement the edict.

Yesterday, a joint military operation uncovered a cache of 150 Chinese-made
rockets, underscoring the shaky nature of Mr Karzai's Government.

The rockets were the same type as fired at security forces last week,
peacekeepers said.

It was unclear whether the weapons were intended to be used against the
International Security Assistance Force.

Meanwhile, a second wave of British commandos yesterday landed in
Afghanistan to join US-led forces fighting Taliban and al-Qaeda guerillas.

The 120 Royal Marines marched off Hercules planes at the main base with
weapons, heavy packs and equipment for missions in tortuous terrain that
soars to 4000m.