U.S. Holds Up on Sending Troops

The White House says it will delay a decision on sending more soldiers to Afghanistan until the U.S. can assess the new government, whose legitimacy has been in question since the August presidential election was marred by allegations of fraud.

BBC:

The White House has said that it will take no decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan until it determines the new government is a “true partner”.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told CNN TV it would be “reckless” to take such a decision without a thorough analysis of the new government.

Washington is debating a request for 40,000 more troops in Afghanistan.

Results from an investigation into fraud claims in the presidential poll are due in the next few days.

[...] Foreign officials - including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and France’s Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner - have been pressing Mr Karzai to accept that he might have to face a run-off.

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listown.com

Officials outside of Afghanistan are urging a runoff election of the country’s presidential candidates.