Obama censures Pak govt; says 'very fragile'

In an extraordinary censure of the civilian government of Pakistan, US President Barack Obama on Thursday described it as "very fragile" and not seeming to have the capacity to deliver even basic services to its people.

As a consequence, it is very difficult for the government to gain the support and the loyalty of the people, Obama said in unusual remarks.

"I'm more concerned that the civilian government there right now is very fragile and don't seem to have the capacity to deliver basic services -- schools, health care, rule of law, a judicial system that works for the majority of the people," Obama said in a prime-time news conference marking the 100-day of his presidency.

Obama, who has voiced serious concern over the situation along the restive Pak-Afghan border, has called President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai for a meeting in Washington next week.

During the press meet, the third since he assumed office on January 20, Obama also made it clear that with the US having "huge" strategic and security interests, it will make sure that Pakistan is stable and its nuclear weapons do not fall into militant hands.