WASHINGTON, Nov 13: The presidents of Russia and the United States agreed Tuesday to expand efforts to prevent terrorist groups from obtaining biological, chemical or nuclear weapons and to ensure that a broad-based, multi-ethnic government takes over Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban.

Presidents Bush and Putin also defended their new allies in the Afghan opposition, blaming any human rights violations in Afghanistan on the Taliban militia.

While supporting the Northern Alliance, the leaders endorsed a broad approach to a post-Taliban Afghanistan that includes all ethnic groups, including Pakhtoons not represented by the alliance.

“There is no preferential place at the bargaining table” for a new government, Mr Bush told a press conference.—dpa