This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7516063.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Obama meets Afghan leader Karzai Obama gives pledge against terror
(about 3 hours later)
US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has met President Hamid Karzai while on a visit to Afghanistan. US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has vowed to fight terror "with vigour" in talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Details of the talks have not yet been given. Mr Obama said earlier this week he would send extra US forces to the country if he is elected US president. Mr Obama and two other US senators also discussed the drugs trade and US-Afghan ties with Mr Karzai, officials said.
The senator, who flew to Kabul as part of a US congressional team, also had breakfast with US troops in the city. Mr Obama said earlier this week he would send extra US forces to the country if he is elected US president.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain criticised him for announcing a strategy before visiting the region. Rival presidential hopeful John McCain has criticised him for announcing a strategy before visiting the region.
Mr Obama is later expected to visit Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain.Mr Obama is later expected to visit Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain.
Correspondents say the Illinois senator is hoping to address security issues, seen as the weakest aspect of his bid to win the presidency in November's election. Correspondents say the Illinois senator is hoping to boost his foreign policy and security credentials, seen as the weakest aspects of his bid to win the presidency in November's election.
Opinion polls suggest Americans regard Mr McCain, senator for Arizona, as a better potential commander-in-chief. Opinion polls suggest Americans regard Mr McCain, Republican senator for Arizona, as a better potential commander-in-chief.
'Shared experiences''Shared experiences'
Mr Obama and Mr Karzai met for lunch in the presidential palace in Kabul, according to officials, but it is not known what they discussed. Mr Obama, along with the other senators on the congressional fact-finding trip, Republican Chuck Hagel and Democrat Jack Reed, spent almost two hours in talks with Mr Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul, officials said.
TRUSTED ON MIDDLE EAST Americans with more trust in one candidate than the other to handle the situation involving - Iraq: McCain 47%, Obama 45% Iran: McCain 46%, Obama 44% Israel and the Palestinians: McCain 44%, Obama 42% Source: Washington Post/ABC News, 10-13 July Pitfalls for Obama on world tourVote USA 2008: Foreign policyTRUSTED ON MIDDLE EAST Americans with more trust in one candidate than the other to handle the situation involving - Iraq: McCain 47%, Obama 45% Iran: McCain 46%, Obama 44% Israel and the Palestinians: McCain 44%, Obama 42% Source: Washington Post/ABC News, 10-13 July Pitfalls for Obama on world tourVote USA 2008: Foreign policy
A spokesman for Mr Karzai, Humayun Hamidzada, told reporters that the senators had pledged continued strong ties with Afghanistan no matter which party won the US election.
He said the discussions had been at a "broad level", rather than going into detail, and had focused on the challenges facing Afghanistan and the region, including terror, the illegal drugs trade and corruption.
Mr Obama had conveyed "his commitment to... supporting Afghanistan and to continue the war against terrorism with vigour", Mr Hamidzada said.
Mr Obama, on his first visit to Afghanistan, made no public comment after the lunch meeting.
In an interview with CNN last week, Mr Obama criticised Mr Karzai's government, saying it had "not gotten out of the bunker" and had done too little to rebuild the country's institutions.In an interview with CNN last week, Mr Obama criticised Mr Karzai's government, saying it had "not gotten out of the bunker" and had done too little to rebuild the country's institutions.
However, asked ahead of his visit what message he would convey to Afghan and Iraqi leaders, Mr Obama said: "I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking."However, asked ahead of his visit what message he would convey to Afghan and Iraqi leaders, Mr Obama said: "I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking."
He stressed that he was visiting the region as a senator, not as president.He stressed that he was visiting the region as a senator, not as president.
Mr Obama and two other senators on the trip, Republican Chuck Hagel and Democrat Jack Reed, had earlier talked to US troops over breakfast inside Camp Eggers in Kabul. Mr Obama and the other senators had earlier talked to US troops over breakfast inside Camp Eggers in Kabul.
"They sat with the soldiers, shared stories with the soldiers about what is going on in Afghanistan... shared experiences," said US military spokesman Lt Col Dave Johnson."They sat with the soldiers, shared stories with the soldiers about what is going on in Afghanistan... shared experiences," said US military spokesman Lt Col Dave Johnson.
Combat brigadesCombat brigades
On Saturday, the opening day of Mr Obama's overseas trip, the congressional delegation visited the north-east of the country, where he met troops and US officials.On Saturday, the opening day of Mr Obama's overseas trip, the congressional delegation visited the north-east of the country, where he met troops and US officials.
The area has seen an increase in fighting with pro-Taleban rebels in recent months, notably along the border with Pakistan.The area has seen an increase in fighting with pro-Taleban rebels in recent months, notably along the border with Pakistan.
In a speech earlier this week, Mr Obama promised to commit at least two more combat brigades - up to 10,000 men - to Afghanistan, if he wins November's election.In a speech earlier this week, Mr Obama promised to commit at least two more combat brigades - up to 10,000 men - to Afghanistan, if he wins November's election.
He also said the US military should focus on that country rather than Iraq.He also said the US military should focus on that country rather than Iraq.
Mr Obama also said he would talk to commanders in both Afghanistan and Iraq to find out about their concerns. Mr Obama said he would talk to commanders in both Afghanistan and Iraq to find out about their concerns.
Correspondents say the McCain campaign will seize on every perceived misstep during Mr Obama's trip, and will also point out that Mr McCain's earlier visits to Iraq and elsewhere attracted far less public attention.Correspondents say the McCain campaign will seize on every perceived misstep during Mr Obama's trip, and will also point out that Mr McCain's earlier visits to Iraq and elsewhere attracted far less public attention.