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Karzai pledges 'clean' government Karzai vows to battle corruption
(40 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 vowed to remove the "stigma" of corruption, a day after winning a new term.
In his first remarks since being declared winner of August's fraud-marred election, he said he would "remove this stigma" of corruption. In his first remarks since being declared winner of August's fraud-marred poll, he also pledged to lead an inclusive government for all Afghans.
He also pledged an inclusive government for anyone who wanted to work with him whether they supported or opposed him. And he called on "Taliban brothers" who have been fighting an insurgency against him to "embrace their land".
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 this weekend.
ANALYSIS Paul Reynolds, world affairs correspondent, BBC News websiteANALYSIS 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.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.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 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, conditionallyThe 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. "We were hoping, and it would have been better for our country, for the democratic process and for us, if our brother Dr Abdullah had participated in the second round and the second round had taken place," Mr Karzai said.
On Monday, US President Barack Obama asked Mr Karzai to intensify efforts to eradicate it. The Afghan president's relations with the West have cooled since he was first elected in 2004, amid claims of widespread corruption in his administration.
"Our government has been seriously discredited by administrative corruption," said Mr Karzai. On Monday, US President Barack Obama asked 51-year-old Mr Karzai to intensify efforts to eradicate it.
Mr Obama said Mr Karzai would be judged on deeds, not words.
"Our government has been seriously discredited by administrative corruption," said Mr Karzai on Tuesday.
"We will try to remove this stigma from our soil and our country in any possible way.""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. He said he would work with anyone, whether they had opposed or supported him in the election.
And he continued: "We call on our Taliban brothers to come home and embrace their land."
HAVE YOUR SAYAs an Afghan, I urge him to choose a clean and talented cabinetAbdul Malik Niazi, Kabul, Afghanistan Send us your comments
The Taliban were driven out of Kabul in late 2001 by US-led coalition forces, paving the way for Mr Karzai to take power.
In the first round of Afghanistan's election, in August, hundreds of thousands of votes were discounted, 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.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.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.