Kerry: partial security deal reached with Afghans

Karzai and Kerry reach partial agreement on security accord

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says a partial agreement has been reached with Afghanistan on a security accord but the potentially deal-breaking issue of jurisdiction for American forces remains unresolved.

Kerry told a news conference Saturday that if there is no deal on the issue there will not be an agreement to allow American troops to remain in the country after the NATO-led military mission ends next year.

President Hamid Karzai says that he will let a national council of elders and then parliament decide on the issue of who has jurisdiction for any crimes committed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan after 2014.

Kerry says jurisdiction is not an issue of immunity and the U.S. will prosecute any wrongdoing by American forces.