The prime minister has said that the president of Afghanistan must work with his opponents after a re-run of the election was called off. Skip related content
Gordon Brown called President Hamid Karzai today to congratulate him on his 're-election' following the pull-out of his rival Abdullah Abdullah.
Reporting to MPs on last week's EU summit in Brussels in the Commons this afternoon, the prime minister said that when he spoke to Karzai he stressed the need for a programme of national unity.
Afghanistan needs "new and urgent measures" to combat corruption, strengthen local government and "give the Afghan people a stake in their future".
Brown also paid tribute to a British soldier who was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday, and David Cameron began his remarks in a similar fashion.
He then urged the prime minister to ensure the UK's continued support for the Karzai government "is not a blank cheque" and that the president must act on corruption and the enforcement of the rule of law.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said Karzai "simply cannot lead the dramatic change in direction" needed in Afghanistan.
He called for a government of national unity and asked what pressure the prime minister is bringing to bear.
Clegg said that the UK is "propping up a government no-one believes in" and Karzai must pledge to work with his opponents.
Brown replied that "these messages are very clear" and he stressed them to the Afghan president when they spoke.
"We are expecting strong action on corruption," he told the House.
He also said he expects" effective local government and that appointments to regional leadership roles by "in line the needs of the country".
Brown said it was "absolutely crucial" that more Afghan troops and police are trained.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the Northern Hemisphere, global health officials said on Friday, but they cautioned it was far from over.
