Afghan poppy crop threatening reconstruction

Afghans are growing more opium poppies than ever before and it's threatening to wipe out gains made to help the impoverished country improve health, education and governance, the US watchdog for spending in Afghanistan said Tuesday.

The UN Office of Drugs and Crime said Afghanistan produced nearly $3 billion in opium plus its heroin and morphine derivatives last year – up over the $2 billion produced the year before. From 2002 through March of this year, the US had provided more than $7 billion for counter-narcotics efforts and agriculture stabilization programs. (AP)