UN lifts sanctions on 5 former Taliban officials

Five former Taliban officials have been removed from the United Nations' sanctions list ahead of Thursday's key international conference in London that is expected to focus on a government plan to persuade militants to switch sides.

President Hamid Karzai has been pressing for the removal of certain Taliban figures from the list, which imposes punitive measures such as a travel ban and an assets freeze, as part of reconciliation efforts. (AP)