ISLAMABAD. APR 3: Afghan President Burhanuddln Rabbani said yesterday in Kabul that he is ready to accept a permanent and unconditional ceasefire, reports Xinhua.

.The Afghan president made the remarks after talks with-UN special envoy MahmSid Mestlrl who arrived in the Afghan capital yesterday as the head of a UN special mission in a bid to seek an end to the factional fighting in Afghanistan, said a report from Kabul.

Rabbani said he hoped the other side, led by his main rival Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, would follow his lead on the ceasefire, stop their bombardment of Kabul and allow the passage of relief supplies to the city.

But he did not mention whether he will resign or not. which Hekmatyar has been insisting as a pre-condition for a permanent ceasefire.

The UN special mission will spend three days in Kabul