Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 8, 2008

NATO Chief Calls on Afghanistan to Step Up Fight Against Taliban
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B304C7:A6F02AD83191E160A4743C2BDE2F9CE35C6F54A6CF9DC2CA& Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer says it is up to Afghanistan to improve government, boost
support for security forces



prior to the start of the Informal meeting, 08 Feb 2008" hspace=2
src="/english/images/AFP_NATO_Scheffer_210.jpg" width=210 vspace=2
border=0>

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, left, listens to Supreme Allied Commander for
Europe, US General John Craddock, right, 08 Feb 2008prior to the start
of the Informal meeting, 08 Feb 2008NATO Secretary General Jaap de
Hoop Scheffer says Afghanistan must step up its fight against the
Taliban.

During a meeting with NATO defense chiefs Friday, Scheffer said it is
up to Afghanistan to improve its government and boost support for its
security forces. He stressed the need to fight corruption, build up a
viable police force, and take on opium producers.

The NATO chiefs are in their second day of contentious talks in
Vilnius, Lithuania, as the alliance considers a U.S. request for the
deployment of more combat troops to southern Afghanistan.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been pressuring NATO members
to send more troops to fight Taliban insurgents.

Canada, the Netherlands and Britain have joined the United States in
doing the bulk of fighting in Afghanistan's volatile south. Some
information for this report was provided by AFP and  AP.


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