'Critical moment' for Afghanistan

Afghanistan is at a "critical moment" as Hamid Karzai prepares to be sworn in for a second term, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.
Speaking in Kabul, Mrs Clinton said there was a "window of opportunity" for President Karzai to demonstrate he was going to improve Afghans' lives.
Mr Karzai was declared the winner after an election tainted by allegations of widespread fraud.
He has come under growing pressure from Western officials to tackle corruption.
Mrs Clinton arrived in Kabul amid heavy security ahead of Thursday's inauguration ceremony.
Western officials are hoping that Mr Karzai will use his inauguration speech to make commitments to reform.
"We stand at a critical moment on the eve of the inauguration of President Karzai's second term," Mrs Clinton told staff at the US embassy.
Western leaders are backing the Afghan leader. They know they have little choice - and need to work closely with the Afghan government otherwise the situation will only get worse.
But with a faltering mission in Afghanistan - and their troops dying in the field - those leaders are getting tough. They want President Karzai to tackle rampant corruption within his government - something he has promised to do.
And all of this comes as President Obama deliberates on whether to send more troops to the country where the security situation is worsening.
There are concerns within his administration that more troops may make little difference unless the Afghan government increases its authority across the country.
Corruption a political obstacle
"There is now a clear window of opportunity for President Karzai and his government to make a compact with the people of Afghanistan to demonstrate clearly that they're going to have accountability and tangible results that will improve the lives of the people," she said.
"We want to be a strong partner with the government and the people of Afghanistan - and I always say both. Because it's not either or, it has to be both."
The BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Kabul that for Washington Mrs Clinton's presence there is a qualified endorsement of Mr Karzai.
Both US President Barack Obama and Mrs Clinton have made very public statements about the need to fight corruption, and Mrs Clinton has also warned civilian aid will not continue to flow to Afghanistan unless the issue is addressed.
She was expected to make those points when she had dinner with Mr Karzai on Wednesday evening, our correspondent says.
The Obama administration is currently debating sending more troops to Afghanistan, with Mr Obama saying he is "very close" to a decision.
Mr Karzai was declared president after a second round run-off was called off when his sole remaining challenger pulled out, saying the vote could not be free and fair.
Widespread fraud in the 20 August first round led to Mr Karzai being stripped of the outright win he appeared to have secured.
Meanwhile, a survey from British aid agency Oxfam has said poverty and unemployment are overwhelmingly seen as the main reasons behind conflict in Afghanistan.
Government weakness and corruption were the next most commonly cited reasons, ahead of Taliban violence. -BBC NEWS
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