KANDAHAR - About 20 000 Afghan tribal fighters are ready to attack western Herat amid complaints local warlord Ismail Khan is allowing in Iranian fighters and preying on trade convoys, a rival commander said on Monday.

"We have 20 000 soldiers ready ... the (Kandahar) governor and other important persons will meet tonight to decide whether to mount a military operation or try to solve the problem through talks," Haji Gullalai, intelligence chief in southern Kandahar, told Reuters.

He accused Iranian fighters of intervening in Afghanistan's internal affairs and taking the side of Herat warlord Khan.

Khan's men had been distributing arms and money in neighbouring Helmand province and had preyed on ethnic Pashtuns along the highway linking the two cities, Gullalai said.

Kandahar has sent several written requests to stop, he said. - Nampa-Reuters