Karzai opponent: Govt 'cannot fight corruption'

Karzai opponent: Govt 'cannot fight corruption'
By HEIDI VOGT and RAHIM FAIEZ
Associated Press Writers
Nov 4, 4:59 AM EST

KABUL (AP) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai's challenger in the recent presidential election said Wednesday that the current government will not be able to rein in corruption and has wasted the resources and lives of its international allies.

Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah spoke a day after five British soldiers were killed in a shooting in southern Helmand province. Afghan authorities said the attack was carried out by an Afghan policeman who opened fire on the British troops.

Abdullah said the Afghan government had squandered eight years of opportunity and the assistance of its Western allies by failing to stamp out corruption or establish institutions responsive to the Afghan people.

The Afghan election commission's decision not to have a runoff election after a fraud-marred first round was not legal and has created a government that cannot be trusted to follow the rule of law, Abdullah said.

"That government cannot bring legitimacy, cannot fight corruption," Abdullah said, adding that it "cannot deal with all the challenges, especially the threat of terrorism, security problems, poverty, unemployment and many others."

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