Newsmakers

Afghan opposition forces entered the Taliban controlled district of Sholgera early on Wednesday, inching closer to the key northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, an opposition spokesman said.

"We have now entered the outer parts of Sholgera," Qari Qudratullah, a spokesman for opposition commander Atta Mohammad said from northern Afghanistan.

"Our mujahideen (holy warriors) are advancing. We are hoping to capture Mazar-i-Sharif as soon as possible," he added.

Sholgera is about 60 kilometres southwest of Mazar-i-Sharif and just north of the Keshendeh, one of three districts secured by the opposition on Tuesday.