Tuesday, May 24 2005 14:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: George W Bush today (May 24, 2005) said that US military commanders in Afghanistan would "cooperate and consult" with the Government there but would retain their control over US troops.

In a news briefing at the White House with Karzai standing next to him, Bush said that the United States would transfer Afghan prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay to the Afghan Government "over time," after ensuring that facilities exist to house, feed and guard them in Afghanistan.

He said that US military commanders in Afghanistan would "cooperate and consult" with the Government there but would retain their control over US troops.

Karzai, wearing a green cape, said Afghans are "sad" about recent reports that Afghan prisoners were abused by US military guards at a US-controlled detention facility at Bagram air base north of the Afghan capital, Kabul. But Karzai said that the mistreatment was the work of "individuals" and he did not hold it against the American people or Government.

The Afghan President criticized the recent publication by Newsweek of an item alleging desecration of a Koran by US personnel at Guantanamo, a report that was subsequently retracted by the magazine.