UN Urges Karzai to Fight Corruption

A torn and defaced election poster of Afghan President Hamid Karzai is seen as Afghans carry a...

A torn and defaced election poster of Afghan President Hamid Karzai is seen as Afghans carry a plastic tent to sell in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, Karzai's challenger in the recent presidential election said Wednesday that the current government cannot bring legitimacy to the troubled nation and will not be able to rein in corruption. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

(AP)

The U.N. Security Council joined calls Friday on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to fight corruption, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling the country's political situation "delicate" following deeply flawed elections.

In a tepid statement, the Council "acknowledged" — rather than welcomed — the conclusion of the tumultuous electoral process where Karzai was declared the winner after challenger Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from a runoff race saying it could not be free or fair.

Abdullah on Wednesday called Karzai's victory illegal and his government a failure, saying the president's tainted administration would not be able to check corruption or fend off the Taliban.

Ban acknowledged there were problems with the elections, following a closed-door meeting briefing the Security Council on his recent trip to Afghanistan.

"It is obvious that the political situation remains delicate," Ban said. "Clearly, the recent elections were seriously flawed."

The U.N.'s most powerful body said nonetheless that it looked forward to working with Karzai. It urged him to improve security, promote good governance and fight corruption and the narcotics trade.

The statement and Ban's comments come on a day when British Prime Minister Gordon Brown toughened his tone toward the Afghan leadership.

"I am not prepared to put the lives of British men and women in harm's way for a government that does not stand up against corruption," he said Friday in London.

President Barack Obama had earlier warned Karzai that he must fight corruption, just as the U.S. must decides whether to raise troop levels or redefine the goals of the NATO-led mission.

Ban said that during his meeting with Karzai: "I strongly stressed the need for good governance in the country and to take all determined measures against corruption."

Ban noted that Karzai said in his acceptance speech that "he would do his best efforts to eradicate corruption."