US open to Afghan Taliban talks

Barack Obama has hinted that the US could talk to moderate elements of the Taliban as part of its strategy in Afghanistan.

The US president's words come ahead of a visit on Monday by Joe Biden, the US vice president, to Europe for consultations with America's Nato allies on the situation in Afghanistan.

Obama has initiated a policy review on the war in Afghanistan and officials say Biden's high-profile visit is a sign of how seriously the administration is taking that review.

New plans for the US strategy in Afghanistan include the possibility of talking to elements within the Taliban.

In an interview with The New York Times newspaper, published on its website on Saturday, Obama highlighted the success of the US strategy of bringing some Sunni fighters in Iraq to the negotiating table and away from Al-Qaeda.

Obama said that "there may be some comparable opportunities in Afghanistan and the Pakistani region".

The idea of co-operation with some in the Taliban has been talked about for many months by US military commanders, including General David Petraeus, head of US Central Command.

'Complex' situation

"If you talk to General Petraeus, I think he would argue that part of the success in Iraq involved reaching out to people that we would consider to be Islamic fundamentalists, but who were willing to work with us," Obama said.