The time has come for Karzai to act

After his controversial re-election, the Afghan President Hamid Karzai delivered his inaugural address yesterday in Kabul. The daily The Times writes that it is now time for Karzai to show he can lead his country forward: "Western diplomats have identified a number of competent technocrats who might get a grip on the floundering administration in Kabul. Mr Karzai has consistently demurred at their appointment, largely because he has reserved plum jobs for cronies wanting to enrich themselves. ... Second, the promised transparency must include an audit of the Karzai family wealth, now estimated by US officials at hundreds of millions of dollars - a sum incompatible with honest government. Finally, there must be swift signs that he is moving to political reconciliation. Another suicide bombing yesterday killed 13 people. Until there is competent government in Kabul, this violence will only continue to grow."

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