NATO: Elections showcase Afghan democracy

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 19 (UPI) -- Afghanistan will showcase its democratic progress when it votes in presidential and parliamentary polls in August, the departing NATO secretary-general said.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other top Afghan officials as U.S. and international forces increase their presence in the country ahead of August elections.

"This nation has proven five years ago that this was possible," the secretary-general said, "and we will do our best, together with the Afghan national army and the Afghan national police to provide support to these elections as the third layer of protection."

Afghans head to the polls Aug. 20 to pick their next president. Karzai faces challenges from his former Defense Minister Abdullah Abdullah, former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani and 40 other candidates, including two women.

De Hoop Scheffer also met with the new American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, wishing him success as he takes over at the International Security Assistance Force for Afghanistan.

Washington ousted U.S. Gen. David McKiernan in favor of McChrystal, a counter-terrorism specialist, in an abrupt announcement earlier this year.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, prime minister of Denmark, will be the next NATO secretary-general when de Hoop Scheffer's term expires later this summer.