Obama, Sarkozy discuss Afghanistan issue over phone

PARIS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The President of United States Barack Obama called his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy Monday about Afghanistan, a day before Obama to announce his new plan of extra troops to the Central Asian country.

The Elysee Palace said that the two leaders also discussed the preparation for the Copenhagen Climate Conference, the Iran nuclear issues and the peace process in Middle East during their 40-minute talks.

Obama informed his new strategy of Afghan to Sarkozy and said French military existence "was necessary for Afghan people to progressively assume their responsibilities," local media quoted an unnamed Elysee source as saying.

French newspaper Le Monde reported on its website on Monday that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had told French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner her hope of 1,500 additional French troops to Afghanistan last week.

However, no clear promise from France was heard after the two leaders telephone call.

France was waiting to see Afghan authorities' implementation of its early engagements until a conference in London on Jan. 28, 2010, local reports said. For France, the priority is to "form Afghan troops," according to the same Elysee source.

Presently, over 3,000 French soldiers are deployed among the multinational forces in Afghanistan to engage in fights against terror groups and training local troops.

Sarkozy has said France would not augment its troops in the restless Central Asian country.