G8 leaders summoned to Camp David

WASHINGTON, March 6 (UPI) -- Group of Eight leaders have been invited to Camp David, Md., to address a broad range of issues ahead of a NATO summit in May, the White House announced.

Chicago had been announced as the site of the G8 and NATO summits scheduled for May but U.S. President Barack Obama invited G8 leaders to Camp David in Maryland ahead of the NATO meeting.

"The president will then welcome NATO allies and partners to his hometown of Chicago for the NATO summit on May 20-21, which will be the premier opportunity this year for the president to continue his efforts to strengthen NATO in order to ensure that the Atlantic Alliance remains the most successful alliance in history, while charting the way forward in Afghanistan," the White House said.

The international mission in Afghanistan suffered a minor setback following the recent mishandling of the Koran at a military base. Hundreds of Afghans protested against the U.S.-led operation, though military leaders said the unrest would do little to alter the overall mission.

U.S. and international forces said they were keen on handing security responsibility over to the Afghan military by 2014.

Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department said that Washington was committed to a long-term framework for cooperation with Kabul. There were, however, a "couple of sticking points," she said.