Calling Afghan President Hamid Karzai an "unworthy partner," a key Democratic leader warned Friday that Congress cannot fund an expanded military mission without a reliable ally in Kabul.

LONDON (Reuters) - The Afghan government would quickly be overthrown if NATO troops pulled out of the country now, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Friday.

Police are weak link in Afghanistan's goal for its forces take lead on security in 5 years. Underpaid, under-equipped and under-trained, Afghanistan's 93,000-member police force is the weak link in an ambitious security strategy to hand over defense of the country to Afghans so American and other foreign troops can go home.

Afghan schools and most tertiary institutions will reopen on Sunday after being shut for three weeks following the country's first swine flu death, the education ministry said Saturday.

KABUL (Reuters) - NATO took command of the training of the Afghan army and police on Saturday to consolidate efforts on building an effective security force, a vital precondition for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Beaten, held at bottom of well: Contractor's ordeal shows problems in rebuilding Afghan road. Khalid Khan stares through the dusty window pane, down across the rooftops of the capital, and wonders if they really know where he lives.

Rocket hits wall of luxury Serena Hotel in Afghanistan's capital, wounding 2. A rocket hit outside the luxury Serena Hotel in Afghanistan's capital late Saturday, wounding two people, the Interior Ministry said.

A rocket attack near the luxury Serena Hotel in Kabul wounded four people, including at least one member of the Afghan security forces, a spokesman for Afghanistan's health ministry said Saturday.

A rocket attack near the luxury Serena Hotel in Kabul has injured four people, including two members of the Afghan security forces, a spokesman for Afghanistan's health ministry said Saturday.

The new US prison for captured insurgents lies in the middle of a former Soviet minefield, on the northeastern side of the main American militry base in Afghanistan.

French forces say rockets hit Afghan market, apparently targeting French general. Insurgents fired two rockets Monday into a crowded market northeast of Kabul where the head of French forces in Afghanistan held a meeting with tribal elders. The attack killed three children and wounded 20 other people, the French military said.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan will form a high-level anti-corruption unit to investigate graft among senior officials, the Interior Ministry said on Monday, after widespread criticism and demands from Washington for the government to do more.

KABUL (Reuters) - Five civilians were killed and 28 wounded when Taliban insurgents fired three rockets into a busy market in northeastern Afghanistan Monday, Afghan police said.

The Afghan government said on Monday it had formed a major crime unit to tackle corruption, following escalating Western pressure on President Hamid Karzai to fight graft.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan will form a new anti-corruption unit to investigate high-level graft after widespread criticism and demands from Washington for it to do more amid a wider regional strategy review.

The Afghan government said on Monday it had formed a major crime unit to tackle corruption, following escalating Western pressure on President Hamid Karzai to fight graft.

Eager to dispel its image as a rights abuser after "war on terror" prison scandals, the US has opened a new Afghan jail that critics say still falls short of basic legal standards.

EU officials question Afghan government's ability to face up to country's challenges. European Union officials questioned Monday whether Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government can face up to the country's challenges but did not echo a U.S. pledge to withhold civilian aid without more accountability.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Monday that al Qaeda remained the biggest threat to U.S. security, as his aides stepped up pressure on Afghanistan and Pakistan to cooperate with Washington's strategy in the troubled region.

President Barack Obama's drawn-out decision-making on Afghanistan is sending messages. To the Afghan government: Clean up your act. To the Pentagon: I'm no rubber stamp. To the American public: More troops can't be the sole answer.