US pledges extra Afghan aid

The United States Treasury Secretary, John Snow, says America intends to give Afghanistan about $1bn in extra aid, and called for other countries to match that amount.

Speaking during a visit to Kabul, Mr Snow said Afghanistan remained a critical priority for the United States, and reconstruction must succeed.

Mr Snow is due to attend a donor conference on Afghanistan in Dubai over the weekend.

Correspondents say President Hamid Karzai's government has complained bitterly that pledges of billions of dollars of aid have not been fulfilled.

The World Bank and the United Nations have estimated Afghanistan's reconstruction needs at $13bn-19bn.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service