UN Experts: Taliban radicals against peace gain prominence

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.N. experts say radical splinter groups within the Taliban movement that are strongly opposed to any negotiation with Afghanistan's new government are gaining prominence. <br /> <br /> The experts monitoring U.N. sanctions against the Taliban said that despite gestures by the international community and the Afghan government in support of reconciliation, ``there are currently no clear signals that the Taliban leadership is willing to engage in a political negotiation in a meaningful way.'' <br /> <br /> While a minority in the Taliban leadership continue to signal that they are willing to talk, the experts said in a report to the Security Council circulated Thursday that the central leadership is not only resisting but attempted to disrupt the political process by targeting members of the government body tasked with organizing peace talks.