Donors conference at the Hague focuses on Afghanistan

President Obama left today for the G20 summit in London, where world leaders will discuss the global economic crisis during the one-day meeting. Obama then heads to Strasbourg for a NATO summit, where about 25,000 French and German police are already mobilizing in anticipation of protests - nearly 1 police officer for every anticipated demonstrator. World leaders will discuss NATO's presence in Afghanistan during the meetings. Protesters are organizing a peace march on Friday.

Meanwhile in the Hague today, leaders from more than 70 countries gathered at an international donors conference focusing on Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai said he supports the new US strategy, and wants Pakistan and Iran to play a role in helping to stablize the region.

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US Secretary of State Clinton repeated Obama's calls for a reconciliation initiative in which people willing to break from Al Qaeda and renounce violence could reintegrate into society. Clinton also said past strategies to root out terrorism have failed, and pushed for more international cooperation and aid.

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Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister was also in attandance. He agreed that foreign troops in Afghanistan have not improved security there, and said Iran will participate plans for development and reconstruction and in the fight against drug trafficking.  At the meeting Tuesday, US envoy Richard Holbrooke met with an Iranian official, in an "unplanned, cordial" meeting, according to Clinton. The US is trying to secure the release of three Americans, former FBI agent Robert Levinson, women's rights advocate Esha Momeni and journalist Roxana Saberi.