Afghanistan Seeks Control Over NATO

The Afghan government has sent NATO headquarters a draft agreement that would give Afghanistan more control over future NATO deployments in the country. This includes the positioning of some U.S. troops according to officials. The draft technical agreement would put in place rules of conduct for NATO-led troops in Afghanistan. In addition, the number of additional NATO troops and their location would have to be approved by the Afghan government.

This agreement is an attempt by Afghanistan to gain more control over international military operations. It would also prohibit NATO troops from conducting any searches of Afghan homes. This was according to a copy of the draft obtained by The Associated Press.

Afghanistan's President Escapes Assination Attempt

There were three people killed, eight wounded in the attack at the ceremony in Kabul. Militants firing rockets and automatic rifles attacked the Afghan president at the ceremony on Sunday, missing their target but killing three and wounding eight others. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault that sent President Hamid Karzai and foreign ambassadors scurrying for cover, underscoring the fragile grip of his U.S. backed government. Gunmen opened fire as a 21 gun salute echoed over the capital at an anniversary ceremony to mark the mujahedeen victory over the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Opium at Record High

The UN says opium production in Afghanistan has soared to record levels, with an increase on last year of more than a third. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime report says the amount of opium produced there has doubled in the last two years. It says Helmand province is now the biggest single source in the world, surpassing whole countries such as Columbia. Afghanistan now accounts for more than 93% of the world's opiates.