Karzai Vows to Tackle Corruption, Cronyism

(CBS/AP)  Updated at 4:29 a.m. Eastern.

Afghanistan's president says he wants people from "all parts of the country" in his government.

President Hamid Karzai told reporters Tuesday that he will welcome anyone from the opposition into his government and will institute reforms to stamp out corruption.

On Monday, he won a drawn-out election by default following a first-round vote that was marred by fraud. Election officials proclaimed Karzai the winner of the runoff after his only challenger dropped out saying that the election could not be free or fair.

Special Report: Afghanistan

Karzai said he wants a "national participation government."

His former challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, has said he will not join Karzai, but the two have been negotiating privately about ministry seats or accommodating Abdullah's platform in some way.

Contacted by CBS News on Tuesday, after Karzai's speech, Abdullah's campaign would not shed any new light on the extent to which they might cooperate with the president.

Abduallah spokesman Faazel Sangtharaki told CBS News' Fazul Rahim they "weren't surprised" by the Afghan election commission's decision to declare Karzai victorious, as the election itself had been "handpicked" by the president. Santharaki said the campaign would have more to say on future cooperation at a news coference on Wednesday.

President Obama quickly endorsed the Afghan election commission's decision to name Karzai the winner - but with serious reservations, CBS News correspondent David Martin reported.

Asked Monday by CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark whether Mr. Obama has a viable partner in Karzai, Abdullah said he would leave that to the U.S. leader to determine for himself.

"The United States has experience dealing with the same partner for the past few years," Abdullah said. "It is what it is."

Mr. Obama made an unavoidable phone call to congratulate Karzai on Monday, but also used the conversation to convey to the Afghan leader that now was a time for change.

"I emphasized that this has to be a point in time in which we begin to write a new chapter," Mr. Obama said in describing his phone call. President Obama said that when Karzai offered back assurances, he told him that "the proof is not going to be in words. It's going to be in deeds."

Mr. Obama's message of stern solidarity came as he considers sending tens of thousands more U.S. troops into the war zone in Karzai's country.

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[toldyouso21]

Never trust a devil to rout out devilry. Ain't gonna happen. If there is a lot of corruption and cronyism, then it came in with Karzai. He's been the leader in Afghanistan since the beginning. Just what is he offering? To finally clean up his own house and his own act?

[finkfurst]

"He's been the leader in Afghanistan since the beginning."......... are you REALLY that ignorant of the facts? Who the hell do you think installed him?

[talcoolone]

Never liked this dude. Don't like his stupid hat or his outfit. He just looks like a criminal. We haven't made any progress in Afghanistan with him in charge. It's time to get rid of him.

[ramos1129]

How can Karzai clean up corruption and cronyism when he and his family are rich from these two items and are getting richer each day. The tragic truth is that we are backing a rotten administration that everyone knows is rotten but we cannot seem to help ourselves. At this point, it might be better to let the Tabliban have Afgan and for us to fight AQ in other ways.

[louiville35]

Let's see Karzai will probably look to Obama and democrats as an example of how to curb corruption and cronyism. Well that's his first mistake. I wonder if ACORN is international?

[DaVicar8]

Well, if he wants to Tackle Corruption, he's in the right place!

[anti-global3]

"Karzai Vows to Tackle Corruption, Cronyism"
What a joke. He should start by stepping down since he was re-elected as a result of wide spread fraud.
The news services are a joke to. It is odvious the pentagon and cia are feeding them the story lines here and the fact that they just bend over and accept it is pathetic. The news outlets don't owe loyality to anyone other then the readers, not the govt', the pentagon, the president. Just tell us the truth regardless of who looks good and who looks bad.

[aldon61]

Karzi can try to end corruption, but he'll never be successful. Too many centuries of war lords and internal battles exist. Corruption is a way of life in this country. Best bet? Break the country up into regions and let them govern the way they feel comfortable with. The people of these newly formed countries will either tolerate it, or they will affect the change they want, even if it comes down to civil war. Oh, one more thing...............the rest of the world keep out of it, it's their business, not ours and that includes the good ol' you-ess of A!

[nowhiningallowed]

These issues have been around since man has figured out how to organize and be powerful/oppressive. Nothing new here. If he's successful to any degree, perhaps he could share his insight and strategies with all of our political parties across the board, but especially in DC. I don't care who the president is, he always uses cronyism to push his agenda onto everyone else, whether they agree or disagree. Unfortunately, this is part of the process; accepted and tolerated, but hardly acceptable or tolerable.

[finkfurst]

..... and civilised countries work hard to eliminate corruption, not encourage it. Don't judge the world by American low standards...........