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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Afghanistan attacks 'at new high' | Afghanistan attacks 'at new high' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A top American general says violent attacks by insurgents in Afghanistan have risen to their highest level since the Taliban were toppled in 2001. | |
| Gen David Petraeus, who commands US forces in the region, said things had worsened over the past two years and reached a new high in the past week. | Gen David Petraeus, who commands US forces in the region, said things had worsened over the past two years and reached a new high in the past week. |
| Speaking in Washington, Gen Petraeus warned of difficult times ahead. | Speaking in Washington, Gen Petraeus warned of difficult times ahead. |
| He said this was partly because US forces were targeting what he called militant sanctuaries and safe havens. | He said this was partly because US forces were targeting what he called militant sanctuaries and safe havens. |
| There are currently more than 70,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, mostly under Nato command. | There are currently more than 70,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, mostly under Nato command. |
| The Obama administration plans to send an additional 21,000 troops. | The Obama administration plans to send an additional 21,000 troops. |
| New challenges | New challenges |
| There were more than 400 insurgent attacks last week, compared with less than 50 per week in January 2004. | There were more than 400 insurgent attacks last week, compared with less than 50 per week in January 2004. |
| "Some of this will go up because we are going to go after their sanctuaries and safe havens as we must," Gen Petraeus, who heads US Central Command, said in a speech at the Washington think-tank Center for a New American Security. | "Some of this will go up because we are going to go after their sanctuaries and safe havens as we must," Gen Petraeus, who heads US Central Command, said in a speech at the Washington think-tank Center for a New American Security. |
| "But there is no question the situation has deteriorated over the course of the past two years in particular and there are difficult times ahead." | "But there is no question the situation has deteriorated over the course of the past two years in particular and there are difficult times ahead." |
| Gen Petraeus said he was facing challenges in Afghanistan which had not featured during his time in Iraq and which included difficulties in relations with local people. | Gen Petraeus said he was facing challenges in Afghanistan which had not featured during his time in Iraq and which included difficulties in relations with local people. |
| He stressed the need for "being good partners and good neighbours and having enormous concern, needless to say, about civilian casualties in everything we do". | He stressed the need for "being good partners and good neighbours and having enormous concern, needless to say, about civilian casualties in everything we do". |
| Correspondents say civilian casualties are causing growing public outrage throughout Afghanistan and friction between the US and Afghan governments. | Correspondents say civilian casualties are causing growing public outrage throughout Afghanistan and friction between the US and Afghan governments. |