16 November: Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed a decree to dissolve the lower house of parliament and set early elections for January 15, 2012.(agencies)

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.