Political uncertainty in Afghanistan clouds NATO summit
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NATO's secretary general warns that time is short for Afghan leaders to resolve their presidential election and sign a security agreement so allied troops can remain in the country after the end of the year.
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (AHN'-derz fohg RAHS'-moo-sihn) says NATO nations stand ready to give assistance and funding to Afghanistan, but final decisions can't be made until the political stalemate ends.
Rasmussen spoke at the end of a session on Afghanistan at the NATO summit here.
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Because the presidential election is not final Afghanistan's defense minister represented his country Afghanistan at the summit. He reassured Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel during a meeting Thursday that both presidential candidates continue to support the security agreement. Outgoing President Hamid Karzai and the two candidates did not attend.