Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered that private security companies will have to end operations in the country in four months. He issued the ultimatum to the companies in a decree signed in Kabul. According to the order read out by Mr Karzai today, private contractors will have to either disband or join the Afghan police. The order says contractors working for international embassies and non-governmental organisations will be exempt from the decree, as long as security personnel stay within their compounds. He said theree have been tragic incidents where the actions of private contractors had led to the deaths of innocent Afghan civilians. Mr Karzai had pledged to limit the operations of security companies when he was sworn in as president last year.The decision is expected to be met with resistance from Nato forces who use private contractors as guards for convoys and on bases.