Afghans prepare to sign deal with U.S. allowing troops to stay

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/30/us-afghanistan-usa-idUSKCN0HP0J620140930



Afghans prepare to sign deal with U.S. allowing troops to stay
KABUL Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:30am EDT

(Reuters) - Afghanistan's new government led by President Ashraf Ghani was on Tuesday due to sign a long-delayed bilateral security agreement with the United States that will allow U.S. troops to stay beyond the end of this year when their combat mission ends.

Ghani's predecessor, Hamid Karzai, had long refused to agree to the deal, citing his anger over civilian deaths and his belief that the war was not fought in the interests of his country, souring his ties with the United States.

But all of the main candidates in a presidential election this year said they supported the pact, which will also let U.S. forces keep military bases in Afghanistan.

Ghani was declared winner of the election last week after prolonged wrangling with his main rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.