AFGHANISTAN

Observer: Afghanistan Asks West For Another $15 Billion
Afghanistan's interim President, Hamid Karzai, will issue an extraordinary call this week for an extra $15 billion cash from the West for the reconstruction of his war-shattered country.
His wake-up call comes as his government plunges into financial crisis, with the capital Kabul facing its first popular street demonstrations since the fall of the Taliban 18 months ago.

The rising discontent follows the failure of central government to pay police and civil servant salaries. Last week Karzai threatened to resign unless regional warlords paid more revenue into central government coffers.

"Freedom and Democracy"