Karzai Promises Inclusive Government
11.03.09 |
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is promising to form an inclusive government. On Monday, the incumbent leader was declared the winner of Afghanistan's disputed presidential race after main challenger Abdullah Abdullah dropped out of an ill-fated runoff that was scheduled due to widespread fraud in the August election. Facing an increasingly popular opposition, Karzai said in a nationally televised victory speech today that his government will quote, "be the mirror of Afghanistan so everyone can see themselves in the mirror." He also responded to calls from President Obama and other Western leaders to step up efforts to eradicate corruption in the Afghan government. Karzai said, quote, "Afghanistan has been defamed from the view point of administrative corruption ... under whatever means, we will get rid off this blemish."
Karzai has been in power in Afghanistan since U.S.-backed forces ousted the Taliban eight years ago. President Obama is considering a request from top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to send 40-thousand additional troops to the country. He is expected to make a decision on a way forward in the war in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Taliban has condemned Karzai's victory as a farce, saying, quote, "The election only throws dust into the eyes of the people, but the decisions are all made in Washington."