World Notes AFGHANISTAN

"If Jalalabad falls, can Kabul be far behind?" say the Afghans. But for the mujahedin forces, capturing Afghanistan's third largest city is proving tougher than expected. Last week the rebels confidently predicted they would take Jalalabad within a week. But after five days of fierce fighting, the Soviet-backed Kabul regime was showing no sign of surrendering. A victory for the rebels would give them an important boost in political credibility. On the other hand, if government forces can hold Jalalabad, they will deal a serious psychological blow to their enemies.

On Friday the rebel leaders, during their first Cabinet meeting inside Afghanistan, once again predicted victory. Said Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, President of the interim government: "We hope to hold further Cabinet meetings nearer and nearer Kabul."