Karzai promises "government of unity" in new term (1st Lead)

Nov 3, 2009, 8:20 GMT

   Kabul - Afghan President Hamid Karzai promised Tuesday to assemble a 'government of unity,' a day after the presidential runoff was cancelled and he declared the winner.

   'On the government of the future, it will be a government of unity and it will be a government for all Afghan people,' Karzai said at a press conference in his first public appearance since he won a second five-year term.

   The president left open whether the new administration would include the man he was to have faced in Saturday's runoff, Abdullah Abdullah.

   'My government will be for all Afghans, and all 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 election,' he said.

   Karzai's onetime foreign minister came in second after Karzai in the August 20 election but on Sunday withdrew from the runoff, alleging that it, like the first round of voting, would not be fair.

   The August election was marred by massive fraud, mostly in favour of Karzai. A UN-backed investigation discounted about 1 million ballots, or one-third of Karzai's votes, forcing him into the runoff.

   But with Abdullah's withdrawal, the Afghan Independent Election Commission on Monday called off the runoff and declared Karzai the winner. However, the method of Karzai's re-election to a new five-year term cast doubts over the legitimacy of his new government.

   Karzai said Tuesday that he would make fighting corruption, for which is government has long been criticized, a priority.

   'We will use all possible means to eradicate this stain,' he said.

   'We are aware of the difficulties of our governance and the environment in which we live,' Karzai said, adding, 'We keep trying our best to make sure that the wishes of our people come true towards an effective and clean government.'

   A day earlier, US President Barack Obama urged Karzai to begin a 'new chapter' for his country by initiating reforms and cracking down on graft.

   Obama telephoned Karzai after he was declared the election winner to offer congratulations but also to urge him to get serious about improving the government, fighting corruption and speeding up the training of Afghan security forces.

   'The proof is not going to be in words; it's going to be in deeds,' Obama said at a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.