Afghanistan War News Updates -- May 22, 2013

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (R) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee ahead of their meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi, May 21, 2013. Voice of America

Afghanistan’s Karzai Says ‘No Circumstances’ Allow Him to Seek Another Term -- New York Times

NEW DELHI — Seeking to dispel widespread rumors that he would find a way to cling to power beyond the end of his second term next year, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan said Wednesday that there was “no circumstance that will allow me to stay as president.”

“And there are two reasons for that,” he said. “One is, I’m exhausted. Really, totally exhausted and I would like to be retired. And second, why would I ruin my legacy by staying on and taking an opportunity away from Afghanistan to become an institutionalized democracy?”

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More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command Operational Update, May 22nd -- ISAF
Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Helmand Province -- US Department of Defense
Fresh Clashes, Conflicting Claims in Afghanistan's Helmand Province -- Voice of America
Deaths, injuries reported from explosions reported across Afghanistan -- UPI
Afghanistan: Suicide bomber kills anti-Taliban village elder, 3 others in busy market -- Washington Post/AP
7 dead in Afghan suicide blast: officials -- AFP
7 Killed, 16 Injured in E. Afghan Suicide Bombing -- CRI English
Afghanistan: Suicide Bomb Kills Anti-Taliban Elder -- AP
Threat from within: U.S. military braced for surge in Taliban ‘insider’ attacks -- Washington Times/Washington Free Beacon
Torture Victim’s Body Is Found Near U.S. Base, Afghans Say -- New York Times
Nato troops start equipment withdrawal from Afghanistan -- DAWN
‘Exhausted’ Karzai insists he will retire -- Financial Times
Afghan security concerns to ease after 2014, Karzai says -- L.A. Times
Afghanistan's Karzai gives India military equipment 'wish list' -- Reuters
Afghan President Asks India for Military Aid -- Voice of America
Afghan president Hamid Karzai hands India weapons 'wish list' -- The Independent
Hamid Karzai leaves India with an empty hand -- Business Standard
Afghan interpreters to get right to live in UK -- BBC
Hard-line students in Afghanistan protest women’s rights decree as un-Islamic, demand repeal -- Washington Post/AP
Afghan women's rights in peril, group says -- L.A. Times
Sharp rise in number Afghan women in prison for "moral crimes" -- Reuters
More Afghan women jailed for 'moral crimes', says HRW -- BBC
At least 2,091 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 -- FOX News/AP