Afghanistan to get anti-corruption unit
Updated on 16 November 2009
A dedicated unit to investigate top-level corruption in Afghanistan is to be formed, after widespread criticism of President Hamid Karzai's re-election.
The pledge comes in response to demands from the US for the country's government to clean up its act after accusations of fraud and vote-rigging.
At a news conference Interior Minister Hanif Atmar, who was flanked by high-ranking Afghan, US and British officials, said: "President Hamid Karzai, after being re-elected for another five years, has dedicated his five years to fighting corruption."
Meanwhile, Barack Obama has said al-Qaida is the biggest threat to US security, as his aides stepped up pressure on Afghanistan and Pakistan to cooperate with Washington's anti-terror strategy.
The US president has repeatedly been accused of dithering on the Afghan war and troop levels, with some critics saying he risks a "Suez-style" political and military crisis.
