Thousands protest against Afghan war in Bonn

BONN: Thousands of protesters flooded Bonn streets on Saturday, calling for an immediate conclusion of whatsoever military operation in Afghanistan, ahead of a conference on Afghanistan set to open next Monday in the west German city.

The demonstration also turned against German army's long term stationing on the foreign soil and demanded for the war-ravaged central Asian country to resume peace as soon as possible

The international conference on the security and future settlement of Afghanistan is slated to open on Monday. Delegates from some 85 countries and 16 international organizations, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, are expected to attend the meeting.

Sponsored by Germany and chaired by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the conference is intended to work out a roadmap for Afghans' self-sustenance for economic development and peace after the NATO mandatory mission expire by the end of 2014.

The conference is overshadowed by the Pakistani boycott which has cast great doubts over whether it could come up with complete settlement.

Karzai, who arrived in Germany on Friday and held talks with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, will address the opening of the conference, which places primarily its agenda on shifting the responsibilities of maintaining security onto the Afghan government after the NATO mission expire in 2014 on schedule.