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Obama calls security meeting on Afghanistan

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-24 00:50

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama is calling his war council together as he moves toward a decision on whether to add more US forces in Afghanistan.

Related readings:  US lawmakers divided on Afghanistan  NATO chief confident Afghanistan will have more troops  Obama tells troops he will not rush Afghan decision

The president has said he would announce his plans by year's end. He first called the high-powered national security team together in August as he began wrestling with a new plan for Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where the al-Qaida leadership is believed hiding. Monday's session would be the 10th to be held in the secure White House situation room.

Commanding Gen. Stanley McChrystal has said more US forces were needed to head off a US failure in the fight against Taliban militants in Afghanistan. He has recommended about 40,000 additional troops.