The UN Security Council today joined calls on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to fight corruption, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling the country’s political situation “delicate”.

In a tepid statement, the Council “acknowledged” – rather than welcomed – the conclusion of the presidential electoral process where Mr Karzai was declared the winner after challenger Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from a run-off race saying it could not be free or fair.

On Wednesday Dr Abdullah called Mr Karzai’s victory illegal and his government a failure, saying the president’s tainted administration would not be able to check corruption or fend off the Taliban.

Mr Ban acknowledged there were problems with the elections, following a closed-door meeting briefing the Security Council on his recent trip to Afghanistan.

“It is obvious that the political situation remains delicate,” Mr Ban said.

“Clearly, the recent elections were seriously flawed.”

The UN’s most powerful body said nonetheless it looked forward to working with Mr Karzai, but urged him to improve security, promote good governance and fight corruption and the narcotics trade.

US President Barack Obama had earlier warned Mr Karzai that he must fight corruption, just as the US must decides whether to raise troop levels or redefine the goals of the NATO-led mission.

Mr Ban noted that Mr Karzai said in his acceptance speech that he would “do his best efforts to eradicate corruption”.

“The international community will closely work with him and will continue to urge him to keep his commitment,” the secretary-general said.

Ban said he also discussed improving security for UN staff following the October 28 attack on a private guest house where dozens of UN staff lived, killing five UN workers and three Afghans. The UN announced on Thursday it was sending about 600 foreign staff either out of the country or into secure compounds because of that attack.

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