Karzai: Afghan forces to control more areas

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said his security forces will soon take charge of security in seven areas around the country – the first step towards his goal of having Afghan police and soldiers protecting the entire nation by the end of 2014.

In a speech in the capital, Kabul, today, Mr Karzai said the provincial capitals of Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan, Herat in the west, Mazer-e-Sharif in the north and Mehterlam in the east are due to be handed over from Nato-led forces to Afghan soldiers and police in July.