16 November 2009

Clinton: Karzai Must Do More to Fight Corruption to Get Aid

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

By VOA News

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai must do more to crack down on corruption if he wants continued civilian aid from Washington.

In an interview with U.S. network ABC broadcast Sunday, Clinton said the Obama administration wants the Afghan government to establish a major crimes tribunal and an anti-corruption commission.

She says Washington also wants “certification” that any U.S. civilian aid sent to Afghanistan is handled by government ministries that can be held accountable. She says there should be “no impunity” for corrupt Afghan officials.

President Karzai has come under increasing U.S. pressure to fight corruption in his government since his disputed victory in a fraud-tainted election last month.

In the interview, Clinton also says Washington has “no long term stake” in Afghanistan. She says the primary U.S. goal is to defeat al-Qaida rather than build a modern Afghan democracy.

U.S. President Barack Obama has promised a decision soon on whether or how to reinforce the nearly 68,000 U.S. troops now in Afghanistan. U.S. officials have said a key issue for the president is the credibility of Karzai as a partner in the Afghan war.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

This report was provided by VOA News.