Petraeus Offers Condolences to Afghan President Karzai

From an International Security Assistance Force News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 12, 2011 – Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of coalition and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, offered condolences to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his family in the wake of today’s assassination of the president’s half-brother, chief of the Kandahar provincial council.

Ahmad Wali Karzai, a key power broker in southern Afghanistan, was shot and killed in his Kandahar home.

“My personal sympathy and condolences go out to President Karzai and his family during this extremely difficult time,” Petraeus said in a statement issued from ISAF headquarters here. “President Karzai is working to create a stronger, more secure Afghanistan, and for such a tragic event to happen to someone within his own family is unfathomable.”

The general also pledged his command’s support in bringing anyone involved in the assassination to justice.

“I strongly condemn the actions by anyone who played a role in this murder,” Petraeus said. “ISAF will support the Afghan government in every possible way to bring to justice those involved in the murder of Ahmad Wali Karzai.”