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Karzai Says Terrorism 'Defeated' In Afghanistan


10 November 2004 -- President-elect Hamid Karzai says that in his opinion and the opinion of many other Afghans, events have proven that terrorism is "defeated" in Afghanistan and no longer has a place in the country.

Karzai made the comments in an interview in Kabul with CNN.

However, Karzai acknowledged continuing problems, including the kidnapping of three United Nations workers by a militant group that has threatened to kill them.

Karzai said Afghans are angry over the kidnappings and that the government is working hard to secure the release of the hostages.

Karzai, who won last month's presidential election, repeated that his government will establish the rule of law, abolish private militias, and eliminate the production of illegal drugs.

At the United Nations yesterday, the UN undersecretary-general for peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno, told the Security Council that the world community must not neglect Afghanistan now that the presidential election is over. He said the country's upcoming parliamentary and local elections are likely to be harder to manage than the presidential vote.

(CNN/AP/AFP/Reuters)
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