Afghan leader Karzai vows inclusive government

By Sayed Salahuddin and Hamid Shalizi

KABUL (Reuters) - Re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai vowed on Tuesday to form an inclusive government after stern warnings from Western supporters he would have to work harder to root out corruption.

Afghan election officials on Monday cancelled a needless presidential run-off vote after Karzai's rival, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, withdrew citing serious concerns about the election.

The outcome leaves Washington and other Western supporters to work with a partner whose legitimacy has been questioned, while Karzai himself faces a newly strengthened opposition.

Karzai's return removes at least one obstacle as U.S President Barack Obama weighs whether to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan, where violence this year reached its worst levels since the Taliban were overthrown in 2001.

Faced with stern warnings from Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other Western leaders, Karzai vowed to form an inclusive government.

"My government will be for all Afghans and all those who want to work with me are most welcome," Karzai said in a nationally televised victory speech.

"There will be crucial changes in our future government. Now we are determined to use all our forces, by any means, to remove this stain (of corruption) from our soil," he said.

But while Karzai said he was committed to reform, some analysts felt he did not spell out his plans in sufficient detail, indicating no major changes were planned.