Berlin, Sept 14, SPA -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeldinsisted Wednesday that the United States would maintain aforceful presence in Afghanistan even after NATO alliesexpand their peacekeeping operation across the country nextyear. "U.S. forces will of course continue to play a strongrole," he told a news conference after a meeting of NATOdefense ministers, according to a report of The Associated Press.--SPA1459 Local Time 1159 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/289296