Rare Deal Struck With Taliban Over Children's Health

UNICEF wants to vaccinate more than one million Afghan children against polio, a delibiltating viral infection (file) (epa)

September 21, 2007 -- Afghan health officials say they have brokered a deal with Taliban leaders to allow the immunization of children in the Taliban-held town of Musa Qala, in southern Afghanistan's Helmand Province.

The deal -- a rare sign of cooperation between the warring sides -- was made as part of a UNICEF program to vaccinate Afghan children against polio.

Helmand Province has been the scene of some of the most intense fighting in Afghanistan in recent years.

(Reuters)