The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, on Tuesday briefed the United Nations Security Council on the situation in the country and said the direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban must begin as soon as possible.

He said the events of recent days and weeks have shown, more than ever, the urgency of finding a political settlement to the long Afghan conflict.

The US National Security Adviser John Bolton handed in his resignation Tuesday morning at President Trump’s request, Mr. Trump announced on Twitter.

Mr. Bolton had clashed with other members of the administration, notably Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on foreign policy issues.