NATO head warns about terrorist sanctuary

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Afghanistan cannot be allowed to become a sanctuary again for terrorists, the NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned.

Speaking to CNN in New York, Rasmussen -- the former Danish foreign minister who took over his NATO assignment last month -- said Afghan security forces must be trained to take charge of their country.

"We can't allow Afghanistan once again to become a safe haven for terrorists. Therefore, we must succeed," Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen's comments follow a call by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, U.S. and NATO military commander in Afghanistan, for more troops by next year. In a confidential assessment report, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, the general reportedly said without the additional troops the 8-year-old war "will likely result in failure."

Rasmussen told CNN Afghan forces' training needs to be strengthened.

"I think we have to beef up our training mission in Afghanistan to ensure that we develop the capacity of the Afghan security forces so that the Afghans can become masters in their own house," he said. "It takes more trainers and more funds to develop the capacity of the Afghan security forces. And it's my strong conviction that this is the way forward … ."

Separately, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told CNN he agreed with McChrystal's assessment.

"There is a need to strengthen security and the number of troops," he said.