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Cheney in surprise Afghan visit Cheney in surprise Afghan visit
(about 1 hour later)
US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on an unannounced visit, reports say.US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on an unannounced visit, reports say.
Mr Cheney is expected to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace, ahead of a meeting of Nato partners.Mr Cheney is expected to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace, ahead of a meeting of Nato partners.
It is Mr Cheney's fourth trip to Afghanistan as vice-president.It is Mr Cheney's fourth trip to Afghanistan as vice-president.
Mr Cheney arrived from Iraq, where his visit coincided with the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of the country.Mr Cheney arrived from Iraq, where his visit coincided with the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of the country.
The two men will discuss security and democracy in Afghanistan, and the ways in which the US can continue to support it, a spokeswoman for Mr Cheney said.The two men will discuss security and democracy in Afghanistan, and the ways in which the US can continue to support it, a spokeswoman for Mr Cheney said.
Troop numbers Mr Cheney is also expected to meet US troops stationed in there.
Mr Cheney is also expected to meet US troops stationed there.
US troops make up a third of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).
A further 7,000 troops are part of a US-led coalition there, and some 3,200 Marines slated for a seven-month deployment in the south have begun arriving in Kandahar.
Afghanistan will be a key topic at a Nato summit early next month in Romania, as Nato force commanders have asked for more troops to send to the south, where the insurgency is the most active.
Canada, which has more than 2,000 troops in the south, has threatened to pull out unless Nato provide another 1,000 soldiers to reinforce its combat forces.