Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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January 10, 2009

US Vice President-Elect Biden in Afghanistan
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=217D921:A6F02AD83191E160C154A95D4806EA020531BB26A5003E7B&
 
Visit follows trip to Pakistan, where Mr. Biden held separate talks
Friday with Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari 
Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani shakes hands with US vice
president-elect Joe Biden at the PM's House in Islamabad, 09 Jan
2009U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden is in Afghanistan Saturday for
talks with political and military leaders in the war-ravaged country.
Biden is scheduled to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S.
General David Mc Kiernan, head of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan. The
Democrat's visit follows a trip to Pakistan, where he held separate
talks Friday with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and
President Asif Ali Zardari. Media reports from Islamabad say the
discussions focused on Pakistan's commitment to the war on terrorism, as
well as heightened tensions between Pakistan and India since the
November terror attacks in Mumbai. Also Saturday, outgoing U.S.
President George Bush used his weekly radio address to thank U.S.
soldiers and other Americans for working tirelessly, in countries such
as Afghanistan. He says their efforts have saved lives and have
prevented terrorists from striking on American soil. Biden is leading a
congressional delegation to South Asia. He is making the trip as the
outgoing chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In
Pakistan, Biden also met with the army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of the southern U.S. state of South
Carolina also took part in the talks. Biden met with Kuwait's prime
minister, Sheikh Nasser Mohammad, on Thursday during a stop in the
emirate on the way to South Asia. Earlier this week, Biden's office
released a statement saying the delegation would be on a fact-finding
mission, but did not disclose the itinerary or other details for
security reasons. In Washington, Biden's letter of resignation from the
Senate was read by the clerk at the end of Friday's Senate session. The
vice president-elect and President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn into
office on January 20. 

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


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