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| Nato head pledge on Afghan deaths | Nato head pledge on Afghan deaths |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| New Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said he is determined to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan to an absolute minimum. | New Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said he is determined to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan to an absolute minimum. |
| On his first visit to Kabul in the job, Mr Rasmussen told Afghan President Hamid Karzai Nato's aim was to hand over security gradually to the Afghans. | On his first visit to Kabul in the job, Mr Rasmussen told Afghan President Hamid Karzai Nato's aim was to hand over security gradually to the Afghans. |
| Mr Rasmussen said forthcoming elections must be as inclusive as possible. | Mr Rasmussen said forthcoming elections must be as inclusive as possible. |
| A BBC correspondent says this has been the most violent year since the Taliban were overthrown in 2001. | A BBC correspondent says this has been the most violent year since the Taliban were overthrown in 2001. |
| The BBC's Adam Mynott, who is travelling with Mr Rasmussen, says casting a vote in the presidential election on 20 August will amount to defying the Taliban, who have called for a boycott. | The BBC's Adam Mynott, who is travelling with Mr Rasmussen, says casting a vote in the presidential election on 20 August will amount to defying the Taliban, who have called for a boycott. |
| Fury in Kandahar | Fury in Kandahar |
| Shortly after landing at Kabul airport amid very tight security, Mr Rasmussen - who replaced Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as Nato chief on 1 August - went to the presidential palace to meet Mr Karzai, and the pair spoke for an hour. | Shortly after landing at Kabul airport amid very tight security, Mr Rasmussen - who replaced Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as Nato chief on 1 August - went to the presidential palace to meet Mr Karzai, and the pair spoke for an hour. |
| Three children and a man were killed in an air strike around Kandahar | Three children and a man were killed in an air strike around Kandahar |
| Former Danish Prime Minister Mr Rasmussen said that although some civilian deaths caused by Nato action were inevitable and regrettable, he was determined to reduce such fatalities - a cause of bitter resentment in Afghanistan. | Former Danish Prime Minister Mr Rasmussen said that although some civilian deaths caused by Nato action were inevitable and regrettable, he was determined to reduce such fatalities - a cause of bitter resentment in Afghanistan. |
| He told a news conference: "My criteria for success is that we can gradually hand over responsibility of security to the Afghans themselves." | He told a news conference: "My criteria for success is that we can gradually hand over responsibility of security to the Afghans themselves." |
| But as he spoke, there was fury in southern Afghanistan in the Kandahar area, after three children and a man were killed in an air strike by international forces. | But as he spoke, there was fury in southern Afghanistan in the Kandahar area, after three children and a man were killed in an air strike by international forces. |
| Angry villagers shouted "death to America, death to infidels", as they displayed the bodies in the back of a truck, reported the Associated Press news agency. | Angry villagers shouted "death to America, death to infidels", as they displayed the bodies in the back of a truck, reported the Associated Press news agency. |
| Mr Rasmussen said Nato had no interest in who won the forthcoming polls but he added the process should be as inclusive as possible. | Mr Rasmussen said Nato had no interest in who won the forthcoming polls but he added the process should be as inclusive as possible. |
| President Karzai - who is seeking re-election - said he had a message for the Taliban. | President Karzai - who is seeking re-election - said he had a message for the Taliban. |
| "Attacking election sites or intimidating people is not only not serving Afghanistan, it is actually working against Afghan people and their very immediate interests for a better life," he said. | "Attacking election sites or intimidating people is not only not serving Afghanistan, it is actually working against Afghan people and their very immediate interests for a better life," he said. |
| Mr Karzai said recently he was prepared to talk to Taliban leaders. He said this was not a new position and he was prepared to enter talks with any group, provided they were not agents of al-Qaeda or terrorists. | Mr Karzai said recently he was prepared to talk to Taliban leaders. He said this was not a new position and he was prepared to enter talks with any group, provided they were not agents of al-Qaeda or terrorists. |
| Some 65,000 troops from 42 nations serve in a Nato-led force that correspondents say has been hamstrung by disputes over the need for more soldiers. | Some 65,000 troops from 42 nations serve in a Nato-led force that correspondents say has been hamstrung by disputes over the need for more soldiers. |
| July was the bloodiest month for the US and Nato in the nearly eight-year war, and the UN says civilian deaths soared by almost a quarter in the first half of 2009. | July was the bloodiest month for the US and Nato in the nearly eight-year war, and the UN says civilian deaths soared by almost a quarter in the first half of 2009. |