U.N. mulling Afghan pullout

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KABUL, Afghanistan -- The United Nations -- already forced out of Iraq by suicide bombers -- fears rising violence will force it to abandon its two-year effort to stabilize Afghanistan, the top U.N. official here warned yesterday.

Lakhdar Brahimi said his team could not continue its work in this war-ravaged nation unless security improves. He called for more foreign troops to help halt attacks that have killed at least 11 aid workers across the south and east since March.

"Countries that are committed to supporting Afghanistan cannot kid themselves and cannot go on expecting us to work in unacceptable security conditions," Mr. Brahimi said.

"They seem to think that our presence is important here. Well, if they do, they have got to make sure that the conditions for us to be here are there," he said. "If not, we will go away."

NATO, which commands a 5,500-member peacekeeping force in the capital, Kabul, has agreed in principle to expand into the provinces. But nations have been slow to come forward with pledges of troops and equipment.

In addition to the peacekeepers, a U.S.-led force of some 11,700 soldiers are still pursuing Taliban remnants, followers of al Qaeda and fighters loyal to renegade warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan, responding to Mr. Brahimi's comments, said the Bush administration hopes the United Nations remains in Afghanistan.

"Our military and those working with us there as well in the coalition efforts have done an outstanding job to improve the security situation," Mr. McClellan said.

"The U.N. has an important role to play in the efforts going on there -- they have been playing an important role and we hope they will continue to."