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Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he is willing to hold peace talks with Taliban insurgents.

Speaking to reporters in Kabul today (Tuesday) at the start of the Muslim Eid-al Fitr festival, Mr. Karzai said he has asked the king of Saudi Arabia to facilitate talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan until the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.

The Afghan president is urging Taliban leader Mullah Omar to return home and work for the peace and security of his people. Mr. Karzai is promising to personally protect Omar from U.S. and NATO forces operating in Afghanistan if he should agree to negotiations.

But Omar issued a statement calling on international troops to leave Afghanistan.