Karzai for more focus on extremism

KABUL (AFP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed sadness Wednesday over the killing of 10 French soldiers, saying after talks with his French counterpart that the fight against extremists needed more attention.

Karzai met his French President Nicolas Sarkozy in his palace just before the French leader left Afghanistan after a quick visit to support French soldiers following the deadly Taliban ambush and clashes on Monday and Tuesday.

“I want to express ... the condolences and the pain of the Afghan people to the French people for the loss that they suffered,” he told reporters after meeting Sarkozy. “France has been a great friend of Afghanistan and a great supporter of Afghanistan, and we are tremendously saddened and shaken.”