In a solemn ceremony held amid tight security, Petraeus received the colours of US and NATO forces engaged in the Afghan war, marking his assumption of command over the 140,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Wearing fatigues, he told a small crowd of Afghan military, civilian VIPs and diplomats, the war had reached a "critical moment" and reiterated his call for a united effort against the Taliban-led insurgency in the country.

"We are engaged in a battle of wills," he said.

"We must demonstrate to the people of Afghanistan and the Taliban that... NATO forces are here to safeguard the Afghan people and we are in this to win. That is our objective.

"We have arrived at a critical moment. We must demonstrate to Al-Qaeda and its network of extremist allies that they will not be allowed to establish safe havens in Afghanistan from which they can launch attacks," he said.

Petraeus arrived in Kabul on Friday to take over NATO's 47-nation International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from US General Stanley McChrystal, sacked last month by President Barack Obama for insubordination.

He paid tribute to McChrystal, who served for almost a year, saying: "No-one did more in getting the inputs right than Stan McChrystal.

The four-star general made his public debut on Saturday as commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, at a US embassy reception to mark the Fourth of July American Independence Day.

He later met Afghan President Hamid Karzai, telling him "that I applaud his commitment to inclusivity, transparency, integrity and accountability."

The president's office said they discussed corruption concerns after billions of dollars in US aid was blocked last week following a report that cash for development projects was being shipped out on commercial flights.

Karzai rejected the graft allegations as "baseless," his office said, yet added that both he and Petraeus agreed "anti-corruption was the main part of the war against terrorism and emphasised cooperation to reduce it".

Petraeus arrives as deaths of US and NATO soldiers are touching record highs in intensified fighting, along with questions about the wisdom of committing huge resources in manpower and money to what could yet be a lost cause.

His appointment has been welcomed by local officials, including Karzai, who is increasingly seen in the West as a loose cannon.

"The biggest challenge for David Petraeus is the Afghan government and president Karzai himself," said political analyst Haroun Mir.

Analysts have also urged Petraeus to make immediate adjustments to turn around rapidly a war seen as bogged down to the Taliban's advantage.

Despite assurances from Obama -- reiterated Sunday by Petraeus -- that the change of command does not mean a change in strategy, the general has already hinted some tweaks could be in the air.

Troops have complained that McChrystal's "courageous restraint" rule, aimed at minimising civilian casualties, prevents them from properly defending themselves -- thus contributing to the spike in casualties.

A total of 102 foreign soldiers died in June, almost triple the May toll and far outstripping the previous highest monthly figure of 77 in August.

So far in 2010, more than 320 troops have died, compared with 520 for 2009.

US Army Brigadier General Reynold Hoover, chairman of the Joint Sustainment Command, Afghanistan, said he did not see changes coming with Petraeus's arrival.

"I don't anticipate any changes. I think we're going to continue to work for the Afghan people here and continue the mission just as it's been laid out," he told reporters at Kandahar Air Field, where he oversees military logistics for the ISAF mission nationwide.

"Whether General McChrystal is here or now General Petraeus as the new commander, I think the important point is that we're going to continue the mission and we're going to continue executing the plan that's been laid out," he said.

Afghan authorities said Sunday they killed more than 60 rebels in raids against militants and drug gangs in restive southern Helmand province.

More than 16 tonnes of drugs, mainly opium, were also seized in Bahramcha district, the interior ministry said.

earlier related report
No change in Afghanistan strategy: NATO chief
Lisbon (AFP) July 2, 2010 - The change of top commander in Afghanistan will not bring a change in strategy of NATO-led forces fighting the Taliban insurgency, alliance secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Friday.

He was speaking following the appointment of US General David Petraeus as top Afghan war commander in place of General Stanley McChrystal, fired by President Barack Obama for disparaging remarks about administration officials.

"It has been a change of command but it will not be a change of strategy," Rasmussen said at a press conference in Lisbon with Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado.

"I can assure the Afghan people that we'll stay as long as it takes to secure their country," he added, noting that Petraeus had given a similar message.

"Obviously that's not forever," he said. "Our mission we'll end when the Afghans are capable to secure their own country themselves."

Rasmussen was on his first visit to Portugal as NATO chief to discuss with local officials, including Prime Minister Jose Socrates, the summit of the alliance to be held in Lisbon at the end of November.

"I hope that we will be able to make an announcement at the summit that transition can start in some provinces (of Afghanistan) but of course conditions must be fulfilled." he said.

"This is a reason why our training mission in Afghanistan is so important. We have to train and educate Afghan soldiers and Afghan police."

Speaking after his talks with Socrates, Rasmussen described the summit of the alliance's 28 member states on November 19 and 20 as one of the most important in NATO's history.

"We're going to approve a new strategic concept, a document which will describe the core tasks of NATO in the next 10 years," he said.

"The core functions will remain collective defence of our populations and our territories, but we also have to make sure that we can protect our populations against the new threats like cyber-attacks and missile attacks."

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