Sarkozy meets with Karzai in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged his country's military support against terrorism during a surprise visit to Afghanistan Saturday.

"Here there is a war against terrorism, against fanaticism, that we cannot and must not lose," Sarkozy said. "That is why it is important that we help with the emergence of an Afghan state that is legitimate, democratic and modern."

Sarkozy spoke with reporters after meeting with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, near where many of France's 1,300 soldiers are based, the BBC reported.

Sarkozy was to spend the day in Afghanistan visiting with French troops.