Karzai vows to banish stain of corruption
Source: Agencies |
November 4, 2009, Wednesday
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AFGHANISTAN'S president welcomed his new term - achieved after his opponent withdrew from a runoff election - by reaching out to opponents yesterday and promising to banish the corruption that has undermined his administration.
Hamid Karzai did not spell out how he would institute reforms or mention whether he is willing to make concessions to his opponents.
Karzai spoke a day after being declared victor of an election so marred by fraud that it took 2 1/2 months to resolve. His main opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, said when he dropped out of a planned runoff that he was withdrawing because it could not be free or fair.
Karzai said he wants people from every part of the country in his government, including political opponents and Taliban who are ready to cooperate with the administration. But he never mentioned Abdullah by name.
"Those who want to work with me are most welcome, regardless of whether they opposed me in the election or whether they supported me in the elections," Karzai said.
"We want our Taliban brothers and all others to come back and join with us."
The Taliban claimed their own victory, saying in a statement the canceled runoff showed their efforts to derail the vote were successful.
Abdullah, who once served as Karzai's foreign minister, has said he will not join Karzai's administration, but will work from the outside for reforms and national unity.
But people close to Karzai and Abdullah say they spent the past few days negotiating privately about ministry seats or accommodating Abdullah's platform in some way.
Karzai admitted yesterday Afghanistan "has a bad name from corruption."
"We will do our best through all possible means to eliminate this dark stain from our clothes," he said.
Hamid Karzai did not spell out how he would institute reforms or mention whether he is willing to make concessions to his opponents.
Karzai spoke a day after being declared victor of an election so marred by fraud that it took 2 1/2 months to resolve. His main opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, said when he dropped out of a planned runoff that he was withdrawing because it could not be free or fair.
Karzai said he wants people from every part of the country in his government, including political opponents and Taliban who are ready to cooperate with the administration. But he never mentioned Abdullah by name.
"Those who want to work with me are most welcome, regardless of whether they opposed me in the election or whether they supported me in the elections," Karzai said.
"We want our Taliban brothers and all others to come back and join with us."
The Taliban claimed their own victory, saying in a statement the canceled runoff showed their efforts to derail the vote were successful.
Abdullah, who once served as Karzai's foreign minister, has said he will not join Karzai's administration, but will work from the outside for reforms and national unity.
But people close to Karzai and Abdullah say they spent the past few days negotiating privately about ministry seats or accommodating Abdullah's platform in some way.
Karzai admitted yesterday Afghanistan "has a bad name from corruption."
"We will do our best through all possible means to eliminate this dark stain from our clothes," he said.
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