US president Joe Biden has addressed the situation in Afghanistan, after reporting back from a long weekend holiday.
Protesters have gathered at the White House, calling for the president to speak on the issue.
Biden said he inherited the plan to withdraw from the country from former president Donald Trump - and the only alternative would have been to recommit to fresh fighting on a large scale.
He said events have happened faster than thought - but American troops cannot and should not fight a war which Afghanistan government forces were themselves not prepared to carry on.
Washington correspondent Simon Marks spoke to Corin Dann.
