Afghan President Karzai promises reform

KABUL (AP) — Afghanistan’s president welcomed his new term — achieved after his opponent withdrew from a runoff election — by reaching out to opponents Tuesday 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 two and a half 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,” he added.

The Taliban claimed their own victory, saying in a statement the canceled runoff showed their efforts to derail the vote by threats and attacks were successful.

“Our brave mujahedeen were able to disrupt the entire process. Even the airstrikes and ground forces were not able to stop our mujahedeen from their attacks,” the statement said. The canceled runoff vote also showed that Afghans heeded their call not to participate in an election they said was the tool of foreigners, the statement said.

Election officials had cited security concerns as one reason not to go ahead with a vote with a foregone conclusion.

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 for national unity.

Karzai said he needs international support and does not want to squander the goodwill of those supplying thousands of troops and funds to Afghanistan.

Even so, 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. The U.S. and its allies have also pressured Karzai to institute reforms and to reach out to the Abdullah camp.

President Barack Obama said Monday that he had called for a new chapter during a telephone call congratulating Karzai over his re-election.

When Karzai offered assurances, Obama told him that “the proof is not going to be in words. It’s going to be in deeds.”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Karzai should “make clear that he is going to take immediate action on corruption.”

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