And in Afghanistan Hamid Karzai was inaugurated as the country’s new President today. At the ceremony was the Pakistani president and foreign ministers from the U.S., Britain, France and Turkey.

This is Hamid Karzai’s second five-year term as president of Afghanistan.

It comes against a backdrop of a rising Taliban insurgency and complaints his government is riddled with corruption.

And there are also doubts over his legitimacy after an election tainted by fraud.

But Karzai has pledged to fight corruption and appoint competent and professional ministers.

[Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan]:
"Corruption and bribery are a very dangerous problem. We want to follow this issue very seriously. Therefore we want to hold a special conference in Kabul to find effective and new ways to fight this problem."

Karzai vows to work towards peace in the war-torn nation.

[Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan]:
"We will call a grand assembly and make every possible effort to ensure peace in our country."

This can take precedence over all government institutions, including the presidency itself.

He says his government is determined that Afghan forces take the lead in security across the country.

There are more than 100-thousand foreign troops now in Afghanistan.