Obama calls US commander over Afghan violence
February 26th, 2012 - 7:41 am ICT by IANS
Washington, Feb 26 (IANS) US President Barack Obama telephoned the top American commander in Afghanistan Saturday to discuss the ongoing violence over the Quran burning.
Obama thanked Gen. John Allen, commander of the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, for the “measures he is taking to protect our servicemembers and civilians”, the White House said in a statement.
Washington “remains committed to a partnership with the government and people of Afghanistan, as we work to realize our shared goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating Al Qaeda,” Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.
Two US soldiers were killed in a shooting at the Afghan interior ministry Saturday.
The shooting occurred on the fifth day of protests across Afghanistan over the burning of Quran by US forces at Bagram military base.
Over 30 people have died and about 180 others were injured since protests broke out over the incident Tuesday.
The NATO has recalled its forces guarding the ministries and other government installations in Kabul, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said Saturday.
“We are investigating the crime and will pursue all leads to find the person responsible for this attack,” the ISAF said in a statement.
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- US vows full accountability in Afghan shooting (Lead, Changing dateline) - Mar 11, 2012
- US hands over key prison to Afghanistan - Sep 10, 2012
- US military chief visits Afghanistan - Aug 20, 2012
- US military chief visits Afghanistan - Aug 20, 2012
- Quran burning protests rage in Afghanistan - Feb 22, 2012
- Four killed in Afghanistan Quran burning protests (Lead) - Feb 22, 2012
- 15 die in Afghan Quran burning protests - Feb 24, 2012
- Five soldiers involved in Afghan Quran burning - Mar 02, 2012
- Shooting rampage: US soldier moved out of Afghanistan - Mar 15, 2012
- Malaysians protest Quran burning in Afghanistan - Feb 24, 2012
- Turkish military helicopter crashes in Kabul, killing 16 - Mar 18, 2012
Tags: al qaeda, american commander, barack obama, civilians, fifth day, government installations, interior ministry, international security assistance, isaf, kabul, measures, military base, nato, nato forces in afghanistan, partnership, people of afghanistan, protests, violence, white house, xinhua