U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan are making what he called "measurable progress" against al-Qaida, as the United States increases its military presence there.
Speaking in the midwestern American city of Indianapolis Monday, Biden said international troops must deny al-Qaida safe haven and reverse the momentum of the Taliban. The vice president said the latest phase is "only beginning" and promised the situation in Afghanistan will be reassessed in December.
Meanwhile, the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan says four troops were killed in separate incidents in the country Monday.
One of the soldiers was Hungarian and two were French. The Associated Press reports the other soldier was American.
Two soldiers died in an attack by insurgents in eastern Afghanistan, while the other two casualties resulted from roadside bomb blasts elsewhere.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.