The Associated Press
Karzai in New York

Interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai presents a wreath Wednesday at the site of the World Trade Center. Karzai also asked the United Nations to expand the force protecting his government.

Afghanistan's interim leader visits World Trade Center, addresses U.N.

JOSHUA ROBIN, NEWSDAY

NEW YORK -- The terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center also helped to destroy Afghanistan, the nation's interim leader said Wednesday while visiting ground zero.

"Afghans understand America's pain," Hamid Karzai declared Wednesday amid the rubble. "The people that committed the crime here in New York, the people that committed crimes in Afghanistan against Afghan people, they destroyed exactly the same way there as they did here."

Karzai, who was joined by New York Gov. George Pataki, said the terrorists "were against life itself."

The leader, who assumed interim control of Afghanistan after U.S. air strikes helped bring about the end of the Taliban's rule, placed a wreath of yellow roses at the site. A black, red and green Afghan flag flew next to the American Stars and Stripes.

Karzai, 44, is in the United States in an attempt to draw help to his desperately poor nation.

After touring ground zero, he addressed the United Nations, asking for an expansion of the international force protecting his fledgling government.

"Security is the foundation for peace, stability and economic reconstruction," Karzai said.

The new government's desire to place multinational troops to Afghan cities other than the capital, Kabul, has been spurred by continuing instability, lawlessness and a resurgence of activity by local warlords.

This has hampered distribution of desperately needed humanitarian relief in many areas.

The U.N. Security Council authorized deployment of the current, British-led force. If the Afghans want to expand the force's operations outside the Kabul area, a new Security Council resolution would be needed.

Karzai told the council his government is committed to creating a national police force and a national army, "however, it will require some time."

Troops battle for strategic province

Afghan factions battled early today for the capital of a province where U.S. forces are hunting for al-Qaida fugitives. Residents streamed out of the town seeking safety. The fighting for Gardez highlighted the fragility of Afghanistan's newfound peace and threatened to complicate U.S.-led efforts to destroy pockets of al-Qaida resistance in the surrounding mountains of Paktia province, in southeast Afghanistan.

There were dead and injured in the battle that erupted Wednesday, said Wazir Khan, brother of warlord Pacha Khan, speaking from Khost, another town in the province. He said he did not know who was fighting or how many were killed.

U.S. planes circled overhead but did not intervene.

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