United Nations Afghanistan envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (L) listen to the opening speeches of Afghanistan leaders during the opening session of UN talks on Afghanistan at the Petersberg in Koenigswinter near Bonn on November 27, 2001. Diplomats hope the talks in the secluded hilltop hotel could set up an interim Afghan leadership council of about 15 people — akin to a cabinet — and a larger group of more than 100 people acting as a sort of parliament before elections are held later. —REUTERS