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United States sees more violence in Afghanistan

* Says Al Qaeda, Taliban forces intent on derailing Sept polls

COPENHAGEN: US President George W Bush’s national security adviser on Tuesday predicted more violence in Afghanistan as the Taliban and Al Qaeda seek to derail elections there in September.

The official, Stephen Hadley, told reporters aboard Air Force One on Bush’s flight to Denmark that finding an American Navy SEAL missing in Afghanistan was a top priority.

The US military said two of the Special Forces soldiers who went missing in eastern Afghanistan a week ago have been found dead and one rescued, but the whereabouts of a fourth remains unknown.

“We are of course doing everything we can to find the last of the four SEALS, and it’s a real priority and something the president asked to get briefed on this morning,” Hadley said. Hadley said offers had been made in Afghanistan to “broaden the political dialogue” and bring in some Taliban officials who “did not have blood on their hands and wanted to be part of the new Afghanistan.”

He said it was clear the Taliban and Al Qaeda had decided to try to derail Afghan parliamentary elections in September, but a security plan was being developed for the polls. “It’s a problem, we’re going to have to deal with it,” Hadley said. “I think you’re going to see some violence between now and September. The question will be how those elections go, how the Afghan people respond to those elections, and then what is the calculation that the Taliban and others make after those elections have been held.” He said the US government was cautiously optimistic about the elections because Washington believed the Afghan people want “a democratic country that they run themselves.” reuters

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