Ex-Afghan leader`s death will not deter US: Obama

New York: President Barack Obama says the
killing of Afghanistan`s ex-leader will not deter the US and
Afghanistan from helping that country`s people live freely.

Obama says the former president`s death is tragic because
he was a man who cared deeply about Afghanistan.

Obama commented Tuesday at the top of a meeting in New
York with current Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The former
president, Burhanuddin Rabbani, was killed Tuesday in a
suicide bombing in Kabul.

Rabbani was head of the country`s high peace council,
which was set up by the Afghan government to work toward a
political solution with the Taliban.

A spokesman said Karzai was cutting his trip short and
returning to Kabul after the meeting with Obama.

Bureau Report