Petraeus admits Afghan campaign at 'critical' point

US General David Petraeus today formally assumed command of the 130,000-strong international force in Afghanistan at a time of rising casualties and growing scepticism about the direction of the nearly nine-year-old war.

Gen. Petraeus received two flags – one for the US and the other for Nato - during a ceremony attended by several hundred Nato and Afghan officials at a grassy area just outside coalition headquarters in Kabul.