<p>Hundreds of tribal and religious leaders, sitting cross-legged in a steamy conference hall, publicly endorsed the plan on Sunday, although Afghan officials acknowledged skepticism remains over the operation seen as a possible turning point in the nearly nine-year-old war.<br /><br />Afghan and international forces already have started to ramp up security, raising fears among the estimated half-million people living in and around the city that military action will lead to more bloodshed.<br /><br />Karzai worked to allay those fears, saying the operation would not resemble a heavy military offensive replete with tanks and airstrikes that could endanger civilians.<br /><br />"The cleaning-up operation will start first inside Kandahar city and then we will go to the districts," Karzai said, urging those in the audience to put aside fears of retaliation and join him in retaking control of the city from insurgents, criminals and wealthy power-brokers.<br />"We need your cooperation with this operation," he said.<br /><br />"I don't accept any excuse for not cooperating. We want this operation to be successful."<br />That message pleased NATO officials who said it was important for Karzai, as president of the country, to publicly take ownership of the operation. US commanders believe control of Kandahar, the provincial capital, is the key to wresting the ethnic Pashtun south away from the Taliban.</p>
<p>Hundreds of tribal and religious leaders, sitting cross-legged in a steamy conference hall, publicly endorsed the plan on Sunday, although Afghan officials acknowledged skepticism remains over the operation seen as a possible turning point in the nearly nine-year-old war.<br /><br />Afghan and international forces already have started to ramp up security, raising fears among the estimated half-million people living in and around the city that military action will lead to more bloodshed.<br /><br />Karzai worked to allay those fears, saying the operation would not resemble a heavy military offensive replete with tanks and airstrikes that could endanger civilians.<br /><br />"The cleaning-up operation will start first inside Kandahar city and then we will go to the districts," Karzai said, urging those in the audience to put aside fears of retaliation and join him in retaking control of the city from insurgents, criminals and wealthy power-brokers.<br />"We need your cooperation with this operation," he said.<br /><br />"I don't accept any excuse for not cooperating. We want this operation to be successful."<br />That message pleased NATO officials who said it was important for Karzai, as president of the country, to publicly take ownership of the operation. US commanders believe control of Kandahar, the provincial capital, is the key to wresting the ethnic Pashtun south away from the Taliban.</p>