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Afghan President Launches Peace Council

VOA News07 October 2010

Photo: AP

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center, speaks during the inaugural session of Afghanistan's new peace council in Kabul, Afghanistan, 7 Oct. 2010

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai has opened an inaugural session of a peace council aimed at reconciling with the Taliban and other militant groups, as the war in Afghanistan enters its 10th year.

The first meeting of the 70-member council took place Thursday on the ninth anniversary of the start of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. The group includes former Taliban officials, former presidents, and civil and religious leaders.

At the session, President Karzai called on the Taliban to use the opportunity to join in bringing peace to Afghanistan. The government has urged insurgents to renounce violence and respect the constitution.

In a statement marking the anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, the Taliban claimed it was in control of the majority of Afghanistan. The militant group also noted heavy military losses among foreign forces and called for the United States and its allies to leave the country.

This year has been the deadliest for international forces since the start of the Afghan war.

The German Defense Ministry says one of its soldiers was killed and six others wounded Thursday in a suicide bombing in the northern province of Baghlan.

NATO also said coalition forces in Afghanistan killed a senior Taliban leader responsible for organizing attacks against Afghan police. The alliance said Maulawi Jawadullah was among eight insurgents killed in a NATO airstrike and follow-up operation in the northern province of Takhar on Wednesday.

NATO says Jawadullah organized kidnappings and roadside bomb attacks. It said he also was linked to a recent attack on a police station in Kunduz province that killed 10 Afghan National Police.

The alliance also said a joint NATO and Afghan force killed the Taliban shadow governor of northwestern Badghis province during an operation on Wednesday. (voa)
================================================Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.