Afghanistan should expect more terrorist attacks, president says

Afghanistan should expect more terrorist attacks like Monday's twin suicide bombings in Kabul, President Hamid Karzai warned Tuesday. Twin suicide bombings late Monday targeting NATO peacekeepers in Kabul killed nine people, including an Afghan child and a German peacekeeper. Police blamed al-Qaida for the attacks, and a purported Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility hours after the attacks.

If al-Qaida is confirmed to also have had a hand in the attacks it would reinforce fears that the terror network is still working with the Taliban, which U.S.-led forces ousted from power in 2001 for harboring Osama bin Laden.

Karzai said the two groups never ceased to cooperate, the AP reports. Karzai said his country was "taking steps toward stability and peace" but conceded that terrorist attacks are likely to remain part of life.

Afghanistan will continue to need international troops "until we are able to stand on our own feet," Karzai said, adding he could not give a timetable for when that might be achieved.

Earlier Tuesday, he addressed a conference in Vienna on Islam's role in a globalized world. Karzai welcomed the meeting, saying it was important to "throw light on the true spirit of Islam."

Karzai, who met Tuesday with his Austrian counterpart, Heinz Fischer, and was scheduled to meet with Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel later in the day, also said he would support Austria's bid for non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council in 2009-2010. A.M.