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Karzai wants more foreign
troops in Afghanistan

H S Rao in London

Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai on Thursday sought a much larger international security force presence in his war-torn country, but Britain was non-committal on providing additional forces.

"It will be a symbol of commitment to Afghanistan," Karzai told British Prime Minister Tony Blair during their meeting at 10 Downing Street.

Blair did not promise to send more troops, but said: "I think we will find that the long-term commitment for the international community is there."

He promised continued British backing for the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

Reports suggest up to 60 people have been killed as rival warlords grapple for power in the Afghan town of Gardez in Paktia province, south of Kabul.

The current British-led force will soon reach its planned size of 5,000 in Kabul but Karzai, who has the backing of the exiled King Zahir Shah, wants the force to be rolled out across the country, an aim that would require a commitment of thousands of more troops.

PTI

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