Obama says U.S. still committed to defeating al Qaeda

By Arshad Mohammed and David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned on Wednesday of more violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but said his government was still committed to defeating al Qaeda, while trying to avoid civilian deaths on those countries.

Obama brought the Afghan and Pakistani presidents to the White House and said both leaders -- heavily criticized by his administration in the past -- had reaffirmed their commitment to the battle against al Qaeda.

But the deaths of dozens of Afghan civilians this week, apparently in U.S.-led air strikes, cast a shadow on the talks.

"The road ahead will be difficult. There will be more violence and there will be setbacks," Obama said, with Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari at his side.

"But let me be clear -- the United States has made a lasting commitment to defeat al Qaeda but also to support the democratically elected sovereign governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. That commitment will not waiver and that support will be sustained."

The Red Cross said dozens of Afghans died after U.S.-led air strikes in Farah province this week while local officials said more than 100 civilians may have been killed. If that figure is confirmed it would make it among the deadliest incidents involving Afghan civilians since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered her deep regret for the incident, without implying U.S. responsibility for it. An American official who asked not to be named said it appeared that U.S. bombing may have caused the deaths.

The Obama administration has sharply criticized both Karzai and Zardari in the past, questioning their commitment and capability to tackle the threat from al Qaeda and the Taliban.