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David Petraeus hands over Afghanistan command David Petraeus hands over Afghanistan command
(40 minutes later)
Gen David Petraeus, the commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, is due to hand over command to his successor, Lt Gen John Allen. Gen David Petraeus, US commander of Nato troops in Afghanistan, is handing responsibility for the military campaign there to his successor, Lt Gen John Allen.
Gen Petraeus will start a new role as head of the US CIA in September. Gen Petraeus, who is returning to the US to run the CIA, oversaw last year's surge of US troops to Afghanistan.
The handover comes hours after a senior aide to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and a lawmaker were killed in an attack in Kabul. The handover comes hours after a close aide to Afghan President Hamid Karzai was killed in an attack in Kabul.
Less than a week earlier, Mr Karzai's half-brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, was assassinated in Kandahar. Earlier on Sunday, Nato handed control of Bamiyan province to local forces.
Gen Petraeus, a 37-year veteran of the US Army, is credited with turning around the war in Iraq after former President George W Bush tasked him with managing a surge of troops in 2007. It is the first of seven areas to be passed to Afghan security forces under a plan announced by President Karzai in March.
He took charge last year and oversaw the deployment of more than 30,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. The handover from Nato to Afghan forces is seen as a critical step in a transition of power before foreign troops end combat operations in 2014.
Gen Petraeus's departure coincides with a security transition as Nato forces begin handing over parts of the country to their Afghan counterparts. Gen Petraeus, who has served with the US Army for 37 years, is credited with turning around the war in Iraq after former President George W Bush tasked him with managing a surge of troops there in 2007.
Challenges He took charge in Afghanistan last year and managed the deployment of more than 30,000 US troops to fight the Taliban. US troops are set to begin the first phase of their withdrawal in the coming months.
But the assassination last week of President Karzai's half-brother and the killing of a key presidential aide on Sunday night in the capital is a sign of the challenges that lie ahead, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Kabul. Shoot-out in Kabul
But the killing of a key presidential aide to President Karzai in the Afghan capital highlights the challenges that lie ahead, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Kabul. Less than a week earlier, Mr Karzai's half-brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, was assassinated in Kandahar.
The aide, Jan Mohammad Khan, was killed in an attack on his home in Kabul.The aide, Jan Mohammad Khan, was killed in an attack on his home in Kabul.
Lawmaker Hasham Atanwal also died in the attack, said police, as gunmen stormed the house in the western Karti Char district of the city. Lawmaker Hasham Watanwal also died in the attack, said police, as gunmen stormed the house in the western Karti Char district of the city. A shoot-out with security forces in the area continued for some time afterwards, police said.
A shoot-out with security forces in the area continued for some time afterwards, police said.
Defence Ministry official Gen Zahir Wardak said the attackers had been wearing suicide vests, the Associated Press reports.Defence Ministry official Gen Zahir Wardak said the attackers had been wearing suicide vests, the Associated Press reports.
While a close ally of the president, Mr Khan - a former governor of Uruzgan province - was also a controversial figure. Though a close ally of the president, Mr Khan - a former governor of Uruzgan province - was also a controversial figure.
Earlier on Sunday, Nato began handing over control of Bamiyan province, west of Kabul, to the Afghan National Army (AMA).
It is the first of seven areas to be passed to local forces under a plan announced by President Karzai in March.
The handover is seen as a critical step in a transition of power before foreign troops end combat operations in 2014.
Correspondents say that despite rising casualty numbers, security has improved in a number of areas of the country following a surge of extra American troops and tens of thousands of new Afghan police and soldiers.Correspondents say that despite rising casualty numbers, security has improved in a number of areas of the country following a surge of extra American troops and tens of thousands of new Afghan police and soldiers.
However the quality of Afghan police and soldiers is patchy and correspondents warn of fears that they will be unable to withstand a renewed summer offensive from the Taliban.However the quality of Afghan police and soldiers is patchy and correspondents warn of fears that they will be unable to withstand a renewed summer offensive from the Taliban.