UN council calls on Afghan government to fight graft, unite country

Nov 7, 2009, 4:12 GMT

   New York - The UN Security Council called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government to fight corruption and the drug trade while also improving security and promoting national unity in the wake of an election marred by fraud.

   The council also said in a statement released Friday that the government must improve the living standards of people in the impoverished country.

   'The members of the council looked forward to working with President Karzai and his new administration,' the statement said after an August presidential election in which a third of Karzai's votes were discounted because of fraud, followed by a runoff that was to have been held this weekend but was scrapped when Karzai's challenger dropped out, claiming the second round of the voting would also be subject to rigging.

   'The [council] members stressed the need for a renewed inclusive political process led by the Afghan government in accordance with the Afghan Constitution in order to achieve national unity and a peaceful and prosperous future for all the people of Afghanistan,' the council said.

   Its statement was released after election authorities declared Karzai the winner Monday and after militants attacked a guesthouse where UN staff workers were staying October 28, killing eight people.

   In response, the United Nations said it would temporarily relocate up to 600, or 60 per cent, of its foreign personnel in Afghanistan from danger zones in the country, sending them either abroad or to different parts of Afghanistan.