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Clinton, Gates Defend Afghan President as 'Reliable Partner'

   VOA News 11 April 2010
   Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton 9 Apr 2010 (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton 9 Apr 2010 (file photo)

   U.S.  Secretary  of  State Hillary Clinton has called Afghan President
   Hamid  Karzai  a  "reliable partner," despite recent tension caused by
   the Afghan leader's controversial comments about foreign countries.
   Clinton  and Defense Secretary Robert Gates defended the Afghan leader
   during  an interview on CBS television Sunday.  They assured that Mr.
   Karzai will visit President Barack Obama at the White House on May 12.
   The  White  House suggested last week it might cancel the visit if Mr.
   Karzai  continued  remarks that members of the international community
   considered to be outlandish. Â
   Mr.  Karzai  accused  foreign  powers  of orchestrating the fraud that
   tarnished  last  year's presidential election.  He even threatened to
   join the Taliban if outsiders continue pressuring him.
   Secretary Gates said in an interview on ABC Sunday that the U.S. needs
   to  be  "sensitive"  when commenting about Mr. Karzai, because Afghans
   could  see sharp criticism of his performance as disrespect for Afghan
   sovereignty.
   He  also  praised  the  Afghan  leader  for his "constructive role" in
   helping NATO and Afghan forces set the framework for the upcoming task
   of stabilizing the troubled city of Kandahar.

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

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