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Karzai pledges 'clean' government | Karzai pledges 'clean' government |
(10 minutes later) | |
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pledged to lead a "clean" government, a day after winning a new five-year term. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pledged to lead a "clean" government, a day after winning a new five-year term. |
In his first remarks since being declared winner of August's fraud-marred election, he said he would "remove this stigma" of corruption. | |
He also pledged an inclusive government for anyone who wanted to work with him whether they supported or opposed him. | He also pledged an inclusive government for anyone who wanted to work with him whether they supported or opposed him. |
Poll officials scrapped a planned run-off after Mr Karzai's challenger pulled out, saying the vote would not be free. | Poll officials scrapped a planned run-off after Mr Karzai's challenger pulled out, saying the vote would not be free. |
Mr Karzai said in Tuesday's news conference in Kabul it would have been better if Abdullah Abdullah, the former foreign minister, had taken part in the vote, which was scheduled for 7 November. | Mr Karzai said in Tuesday's news conference in Kabul it would have been better if Abdullah Abdullah, the former foreign minister, had taken part in the vote, which was scheduled for 7 November. |
ANALYSIS Paul Reynolds, world affairs correspondent, BBC News website | |
The US and British governments let it be known that they regarded the result as legitimate and constitutional and that it reflected the will of the people. | |
Suddenly there was talk that the Afghans did not really want another vote, that they saw it as foreign meddling... However, the praise stopped there. There are conditions attached. | |
The first is that the Afghan government has to start taking a lead in security operations... | |
The international forces have to be seen as acting in support of the Afghan government and not the other way round. Karzai in favour, conditionally | |
The administration of Mr Karzai - who was first elected president in 2004 - has been accused of widespread corruption. | The administration of Mr Karzai - who was first elected president in 2004 - has been accused of widespread corruption. |
On Monday, US President Barack Obama asked Mr Karzai to intensify efforts to eradicate it. | On Monday, US President Barack Obama asked Mr Karzai to intensify efforts to eradicate it. |
"Our government has been seriously discredited by administrative corruption," said Mr Karzai. | |
"We will try to remove this stigma from our soil and our country in any possible way." | |
Hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted from August's first round, including almost a third of ballots cast for Mr Karzai. | Hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted from August's first round, including almost a third of ballots cast for Mr Karzai. |
His share of the vote was cut to just under the 50% threshold needed for outright victory, requiring a run-off vote to be held. | |
Dr Abdullah - who was adjudged to have won a third of valid votes in August's vote - wanted key poll officials sacked before he would take part in a second round, which Mr Karzai had been the favourite to win. |