Afghan-US Deal Struck on Prison Handover

Posted March 9th, 2012 at 6:00 am (UTC-5)
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The United States has reached an agreement with Afghanistan on the transfer of U.S. detention facilities in the country to Afghan authorities.

Officials say Afghan Defense Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak and top American military commander General John Allen are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding Friday.

One of the facilities that will be handed over is the prison at Bagram, the military base where Qurans were burned last month, igniting days of violent and deadly anti-U.S. protests.

President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly demanded that the prison at Bagram be transferred before he agreed to any deals concerning the two countries' relationship following the withdrawal of NATO combat troops in 2014.

The Afghan president had given Friday as the deadline for the prison hand over deal.

Mr. Karzai has also demanded an end to night raids in Afghan villages by international forces. Officials say that issue remains unresolved.