The president made the assurances in a specially called press conference at his palace after 21 civilians were killed in o­ne of the country�s bloodiest suicide car attacks and four Canadian troops died in combat Thursday.

US-backed Karzai expressed sorrow at the deaths in southern Kandahar province and condemned the attackers as cowards.

He added that the government and its international allies had a plan to bring security.

�We have begun very broad actions ... You will see some actions that will finally earn security for Afghanistan,� he told reporters.

But Mr Karzai could not give a timeframe.

�When dear Afghanistan will be freed from terrorism, no o­ne can know. But the war o­n terror will continue until we�ve defeated the terrorism,� he said.

President Karzai said he had consulted various community and religious leaders and his international partners o­n a strategy to defeat the insurgents, who have stepped up their attacks in a more organised campaign this year.

�The strategy (is) strengthening Afghanistan�s police, military ... strengthening the administration in all aspects,� he said.

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