Karzai sworn in for 2nd term
KABUL — Afghanistan will control its own security within five years and prosecute corrupt officials, President Hamid Karzai pledged today in an inauguration speech made under intense pressure to shed the cronyism and graft that marked his government's first term.
Karzai also said he wanted private Afghan and foreign security companies to stop operating in the country within two years.
"We are determined that by the next five years, the Afghan forces are capable of taking the lead in ensuring security and stability across the country," with foreign troops only responsible for support and training, he said.5
Karzai won this year's fraud-marred presidential election after his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, pulled out of a runoff, saying it was impossible for the vote to be fair.
But in his speech, Karzai sought to portray himself as a unifying force and invited those who ran in the election to work together for the benefit of the country.
"I would like to invite all the presidential candidates, including my brother Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, to come together to achieve the important task of national unity, and make our common home, Afghanistan, proud and prosperous," he said.
He stopped short, however, of inviting any political rivals into his government.
He said a loya jirga, or traditional council of elders, would be called to address the insurgency, but did not set a time frame.
"We will utilize all national and international resources to put an end to war and fratricide," he said.
Karzai, who has often bristled at the criticism leveled at him from Western powers, said his government was doing whatever it could to implement reforms.
"We are trying our best to implement social, judicial and administrative reforms in our country," he said. "Being a president is a heavy task and we will try our best to honestly fulfill this task in the future."
Initial foreign reaction was positive.
"This was a speech with the right emphases. It fulfilled our expectations," said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who attended the inauguration. "We will take President Karzai at his word and expect that the right words will be followed by the right doings."
Karzai said a conference would be held soon in Kabul to address ways to tackle corruption, and that his government would take its fight against drug trafficking seriously.
"Those who spread corruption should be tried and prosecuted," he said. "Corruption is a very dangerous enemy of the state."
The president insisted he would select "expert ministers" capable of providing competent leadership.
Karzai was sworn in to a second five-year term by the head of the Supreme Court during a ceremony attended by hundreds of Afghan and foreign dignitaries from more than 40 countries.
