Karzai vows change coming

KABUL -- Taking the oath of office in a solemn ceremony in his locked-down capital Thursday, President Hamid Karzai set an implicit timeline for a drawdown of foreign forces, expressing hopes that by the end of his five-year term, Afghanistan would see to its own security.

In his inaugural speech, the Afghan leader, whose reputation has been pummeled by allegations of corruption within his government, also vowed to fire any officials connected to drug trafficking and "end the culture of impunity and violation of the law."

The swearing-in ceremony took place in a high-ceilinged white chamber inside the heavily guarded presidential palace, before an audience of hundreds of Afghan and foreign dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Although Karzai assumed office in the wake of a fraud-marred election, the inauguration bore all the trappings of grandeur this poverty-stricken nation could muster. Wearing his familiar brightly striped silk cape, the 51-year-old leader trod a red carpet as a white-gloved honor guard saluted and a brass band played Afghanistan's national anthem.

Security was extremely tight, with helicopters circling overhead and armored vehicles prowling the nearly deserted streets.

In his speech, Karzai reached out to chief rival Abdullah Abdullah, although he stopped short of offering him a place in the new administration.

Abdullah, Karzai's former foreign minister, dropped out of a scheduled runoff vote earlier this month, declaring he did not believe the contest would be fair.

"We must learn from our good and bad experiences in these elections," Karzai said, calling Abdullah a "brother" and urging him and other rivals to "come together to achieve the important task of national unity."

With more than 110,000 foreign forces deployed in Afghanistan's mountains and deserts, and with President Barack Obama considering sending tens of thousands additional U.S. troops, Karzai thanked allies for their sacrifices -- but pointedly underlined hopes that Afghanistan someday would be able to safeguard itself.

"We are determined that, by the next five years, Afghan forces will be capable of taking the lead in ensuring security and stability across the country," he said. "I want Afghanistan to become a country that is capable of defending itself."

But the day brought clear reminders of the continuing threat from a revitalized insurgency that has held NATO's armies at bay for eight years. Two U.S. service members were killed in an explosion in the southern province of Zabul, military officials said. This year has been the most lethal yet for U.S. and other foreign forces.

Seeking to deflect the criticism leveled at him over corruption in his government, the Afghan leader promised stern but largely unspecified measures to fight cronyism and graft, and he pledged to appoint only qualified and competent individuals to powerful posts.

"Ministers must possess integrity and be professionals serving the nation," he said, also vowing to pass a law making it obligatory for senior officials to disclose their assets.

Karzai has been pressed hard on the subject by Western representatives, including Clinton, who raised the issue during a long meeting on the evening before the swearing-in. She and the rest of the audience applauded when he promised to fight corruption.

Amid a subdued mood in the capital, some Afghans mustered a measure of hope.

"We've suffered a lot," said Ali Ahmad, a 55-year-old unemployed father of five. "I pray to God to give him the ability to bring a good government, so our children can have a better life."

The Taliban, predictably, weighed in with scorn.

"Today is not a historic day -- this is a government based on nothing," The Associated Press quoted Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid as saying. Karzai, the spokesman added, "became president through fraud and lies."