27 September 1996: Afghan forces routed as Kabul falls

The capital of Afghanistan has fallen to opposition militia after three days of fierce fighting. Taleban forces consolidated their grip on Kabul after storming the presidential palace -- the country's seat of government -- 24 hours ago. Ousted President Burhanuddin Rabbani, his prime minister and his military chief are being hunted by the radical Islamic group who branded them "national criminals". The former president, Mohammed Najibullah, and his brother have already been murdered by the militants. One-eyed opposition leader Mullah Mohammed Omah and his student fighters had been repulsed from the city twice before, but this time it appeared government forces lost the will to fight.