Panetta voices 'confidence' in General Allen amid scandal

PERTH (AFP) - United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday backed the top US commander in Afghanistan, saying he had his "continued confidence".

General John Allen was placed under investigation after Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents probing email threats sent by the mistress of former Central Intelligence Agency director David Petraeus stumbled upon messages which Gen Allen had sent to another woman at the centre of the scandal.

"No one should leap to any conclusions," Mr Panetta told reporters in Perth, where he and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had held talks with their Australian counterparts.

"Gen Allen is doing an excellent job at ISAF (International Security Assistant Force). He certainly has my continued confidence to lead our forces and continue the fight.