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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon defended the removal of 200 "not the originally reported 600," UN staff and personnel from Afghanistan due to collapsed security throughout the country."We are not evacuating. This is not a withdrawl."

He returned from a visit to the country late last week and said he had pushed for a security surge in consultation with the President, Hamid Karzai. Six UN staff members were killed late last month along with dozens injured.

The UN has been deeply criticized for the electoral mess that was created in the runoff between Karzai and his opponent Abdullah Abdullah. Peter Galbraith, UN electoral adviser, was forced out of the country after deep disputes with the UN head of mission in Afghanistan, Kai Eida.

"I have raised two issues with the President to reach out to political leaders and ethnic groups to have reconciliation. I also strongly raised the necessity of ensuring good governance and to end corruptive practices to earn the trust of the international community."

Karzai replied that he "would do his best." The Secretary General also proposed an international conference in the coming months with Germany, France and the United Kingdom to develop firmer relations for investment.