Thursday, November 19, 2009

President Hamid Karzai is pledging that Afghanistan will take control of its own security within five years.

But even as he spoke, a pair suicide bombers struck in the country's south.

Police say an attacker was targeting an Afghan security forces convoy, but blew himself up in a busy market before reaching the convoy. Ten civilians were killed and 13 others wounded.

In Zabul province, police say two U.S. troops were killed by a suicide car bomber near the gate of a NATO base.

Karzai was sworn in to a second term today. In his speech he vowed to make the country safe from such attacks and said Afghan forces would take the security lead within five years, with foreign troops providing only support and training.

He also pledged to "end the culture" of corruption in his government and prosecute officials responsible.