Obama says US will respect 'Afghan sovereignty'

[November 21, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has written a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, saying the U.S. will continue to respect "Afghan sovereignty" under a new security agreement.

Obama also says the U.S. military will not conduct raids on Afghan homes except under "extraordinary circumstances" involving urgent risks to U.S. nationals. The raids have been a particularly sensitive issue to the Afghans.

Obama's letter comes a day after Karzai and Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to a new security framework that would govern the relationship between their countries after the U.S.-led war formally concludes at the end of next year.

[Associated Press; JULIE PACE, AP White House Correspondent]

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