Karzai Told to Fight Corruption; Abdullah Supporters Told to Keep It Civil

In the aftermath of Afghanistan’s scuttled presidential runoff, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged President Hamid Karzai to go after the corruption within his ranks. Meanwhile, Karzai’s former challenger, Abdullah Abdullah,  advised his supporters to contain their discontent and avoid violence.  —KA

Al Jazeera English:

“We are extremely concerned about the level of corruption and the legitimacy of this government … It’s far too much endemic,” Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Wednesday.

Karzai “has got to take significant steps to eliminate corruption,” Mullen said.

“That means that you have to rid yourself of those who are corrupt, you have to actually arrest and prosecute them. You have to show those visible signs.”

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AP / Anja Niedringhaus

Abdullah Abdullah, who withdrew from Afghanistan’s presidential runoff Sunday, responds during a press conference Wednesday in Kabul.