Afghanistan elders seek US security pact signing in 2013 --- A meeting of Afghan elders has called for a security deal with the United States to be signed this year. -- The grand assembly endorsed the pact, which allows thousands of US troops to remain in Afghanistan once combat operations have ended. -- Three days ago, President Hamid Karzai said the deal should be signed after elections due in April. -- The US has said it is neither "practical nor possible" to delay the signing -- The deal also has to be approved by the Afghan parliament. - More, BBC