Ex-British diplomat criticises US commander

Britain’s former ambassador to Afghanistan, Sherard Cowper-Coles, has harshly criticised US top military commander, General David Petraeus.

Sherard Cowper-Coles said in an interview with The Guardian newspaper that Petraeus should be “ashamed of himself” for what Cowper-Coles said was citing Taliban deaths as a sign of progress in the country.

Cowper-Coles was speaking in response to Petraeus’ statement, “In a typical 90-day period, in fact, precision operations by US special mission units and their Afghan partners alone kill or capture some 360 targeted insurgent leaders”.

Cowper-Coles credited Petraeus’ predecessor, Stanley McChrystal, with prioritising the protection of Afghanistan civilians over military gains. Petraeus moves to a new post in September as head of the CIA.

Al Jazeera’s Adam Raney reports.