Karzai sworn in as Afghan president for second term, vows to fight corruption

Afghan President Hamid Karzai reacts during his inauguration as President in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Nov. 19, 2009. The sitting Afghan President Hamid Karzai was sworn in as the president of the post-Taliban country for the second term on Thursday amid tight security. (Xinhua/Zabi Tamanna) Photo Gallery>>>

    KABUL, Nov. 19 (Xinhua)-- The incumbent Afghan president Hamid Karzai was sworn in for the second five-year term on Thursday amid tight security. He vowed to fight corruption and bring good governance.

    "The government of Afghanistan is committed to ending the culture of impunity and to bring to justice those involved in spreading corruption and abuse public property," Karzai said in his speech after taking the oath.

    Afghanistan's Chief Justice Abdul Salam Azimi administered the swearing-in ceremony at the fortified Presidential Palace attended by hundreds of Afghan and foreign guests including Pakistani President Asif Ali Zaradari, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and foreign ministers from Russia, Turkey, France, Turkmenistan and some other nations.  Full story