Afghanistan's president says international bases that work to build provincial infrastructure and government will have to close as his government takes over responsibility for security.

President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly criticized these provincial reconstruction teams for undermining the Afghan government by offering alternative sources of funding and public works.

He said on Tuesday that the teams will be shut as the Afghan government takes over responsibility for provinces — a process starting this year. Afghanistan's international allies have said that they will continue development programs well past these transitions. It was not clear if provincial reconstruction teams were part of this plan.