Barack Obama wants security pact with new Afghan president

President Barack Obama has said he is hopeful the US can sign a bilateral security agreement with Afghanistan's new president, following the second round of voting next month.

Mr Obama made the comments during an unannounced visit to Bagram Airfield outside Kabul.

Foreign combat troops are due to withdraw from the country by the end of the year, but Mr Obama hopes the signing of an agreement would allow a small number of US soldiers to remain.

That is a plan that the incumbent president, Hamid Karzai, has refused to authorise.