Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                Afghan Forces Take Over Security Responsibility

   Afghan President Hamid Karzai says Afghan forces are taking over
   responsibility for security for the entire country from the
   international military coalition.
   Mr. Karzai said Tuesday at a security handover ceremony on the
   outskirts of the capital, Kabul, that Afghan forces would take the lead
   in all security efforts, a major milestone of the 12-year-old war.
   NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmusen said the main effort of the
   international military alliance "is shifting from combat to support."
   He said that alliance troops "will no longer plan, execute or lead
   operations."
   Mr. Karzai also revealed the government will send envoys to Qatar to
   try to open peace talks with the Taliban.
   The security transition was marred by a bomb blast Tuesday in another
   area of Kabul that targeted Afghan lawmaker Mohammed Mohaqiq, who
   survived the blast. Three people were killed in the bombing.
   The Taliban has been executing an intense campaign of violence in the
   run-up to the handover.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/afghan-forces-take-over-security-resp
   onsibility/1683869.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/afghan-forces-take-over-security-responsibility/1683869.html