26/11/2013 10:50
Afghan President Karzai stands by refusal to sign US deal
The Afghan president has refused to back down on his decision not to sign a key security deal in a meeting with the US national security adviser, the BBC reported.
The pact allows thousands of US troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014.
US envoy Susan Rice told President Hamid Karzai his proposal to delay the signing until after next year's elections was "not viable."
Their meeting came a day after elders at a grand assembly in Kabul called for the deal to be signed this year.
"President Karzai outlined new conditions for signing the agreement and indicated he is not prepared to sign the bilateral security agreement (BSA) promptly," the White House said in statement.
Mr Karzai's office said he used the meeting with the US envoy to ask for further assurances from the US that its forces will not raid Afghan homes, and that it will help start stalled peace talks with the Taliban.
He repeated his demand that the US commits to holding free and transparent elections on 5 April.
Also among the terms of his conditions was the return of Afghan citizens held in Guantanamo Bay, according to reports.
Washington insists the deal - which has taken months to negotiate - must be signed before the end of this year in order to secure plans for how many US troops will remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014.