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Progress reported at Afghan talks

The talks are expected to wind up before Sunday

KOENIGSWINTER, Germany (CNN) -- Delegates of the Northern Alliance met on Wednesday with those representing Afghanistan's former king, discussing a plan for an interim administration to pave the way for a post-Taliban government.

Later on Wednesday the two groups -- the two most powerful at the talks -- planned to meet with Lakhdar Brahimi, the chief U.N. envoy for Afghanistan.

It was the second day of the U.N.-sponsored summit, taking place at a hotel near Bonn, and U.N. officials said they were upbeat about the progress so far.

Delegates have literally rolled up their shirtsleeves for talks, they said, which have been heated but civilised.

One of the delegates, Ahwad Wali Massoud, said he was hopeful about the outcome of the talks.

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"We are hoping that we can get everything done, hopefully (at) this meeting," said Massoud, the brother of assassinated Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud. "If not, at least we should get the main points. As a principle, we should agree on the major things."

Also present at the talks are the "Peshawar Group," representing the millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and the "Cyprus Group," representing an Iranian-backed group of Afghan exiles.

The United Nations opened the summit of Afghan factional leaders on Tuesday to discuss the country's future and take the first steps toward building a post-Taliban government.

Those attending are hoping the meeting will lead to a roadmap for the "formation of a fully represented, broad-based government."

All four groups have agreed the most important thing on the agenda is forming a transitional, interim administration to run Afghanistan for the next few months.

U.N. and U.S. officials agree that the former Afghan king, Mohammad Zahir Shah, 87, -- who has been living in Italy since a 1973 coup -- should play a role in the next government, even if it is a symbolic one. Security is another issue being discussed.

A U.N. spokesman said he expected the talks to wind up by Sunday.

-- CNN Bettina Luscher contributed to this report.