Nato upbeat on move into southern Afghanistan

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the chief of Nato today expressed optimism the alliance could iron out problems over its planned expansion next year into the volatile south of the country.

At a joint press conference after talks with Karzai, Nato secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the alliance was confident of resolving issues over how to work alongside the separate US-led coalition force.