President forced to cut speech short

Sensing unrest outside a packed stadium, Afghanistan’s president cut short a speech as police fired into the air in an attempt to restrain a crowd trying to enter, officials said.

Shortly after being rushed off the podium, President Hamid Karzai said security in Afghanistan was deteriorating and renewed a call for negotiations with Taliban militants.

In southern Afghanistan, meanwhile, two British soldiers and more than 30 Taliban fighters were killed in separate incidents, British and U.S. military officials said.

More than 7,000 people have been killed in the last 19 months in Afghanistan.