The Hague - Between 800 and 1,000 journalists from around the world were expected to attend the international conference on Afghanistan in The Hague at the end of the month, Dutch officials said Monday.

Some 500 journalists had already registered to cover the gathering of representatives from at least 75 countries that is to focus on the future of Afghanistan, a spokesman for The Hague municipality told reporters.

Mayor Jozias van Aartsen would formally welcome the international media at a reception in the city hall on March 30, the day before United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opens the conference at the World Forum in the city centre. (dpa)