Afghanistan was today reeling from fresh violence as international leaders gathered in Germany to discuss security and progress in reconstruction made in the year since the fall of the Taliban.
Fighting was continuing in the western Afghan province of Herat following weekend factional clashes that left at least 27 people dead or injured and involved a bombing raid by a US B-52 war plane.
The fighting came at the same time as an explosion in the southeast of the country in the vicinity of a base housing US-led coalition troops engaged in the pursuit of al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants.
And in the capital Kabul, officials said police discovered six bombs in a busy residential area in the latest in a series of security scares to blight the city.
The incidents are likely to cast a shadow over the discussions in Bonn, held on the anniversary of UN-backed talks which saw the signing of a landmark deal to create a post-Taliban leadership and usher in democracy.
Afghan President Mr Hamid Karzai was joined by German Foreign Minister Mr Joschka Fischer and other Afghan, European, and UN officials to discuss how to keep the spotlight on Afghanistan despite the looming prospect of war in Iraq.
The Irish Government was represented at the conference by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt.
The Minister congratulated Afghanistan's transitional administration on the remarkable progress achieved over the past year.
Mr Kitt said: "The Irish Government and people are deeply committed to the task of rebuilding Afghanistan. We will play our full part in the steps being taken to promote the countries lasting economic and social development".
Ireland has pledged €12 million to Afghanistan in reconstruction assistance over three years.
At the conference, Mr Karzai officially announced the formation of a 70,000-strong national army, seen as an essential component in preventing regional clashes.