Karzai prepares for inauguration

Afghanistan is preparing for President Hamid Karzai to be sworn in for a second term as the country's leader.

Western officials are hoping Mr Karzai will use his inauguration speech to make commitments to reform.

Speaking in Kabul on the eve of Thursday's inauguration ceremony, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the country was at a "critical moment".

Mr Karzai has come under growing pressure from Western officials to tackle corruption.

The inauguration will mark the end of an election process tainted by allegations of widespread fraud.

Mrs Clinton said there was a "window of opportunity" for Mr Karzai to demonstrate he was going to improve Afghans' lives.

'Window of opportunity'

The US Secretary of State arrived in Kabul amid heavy security ahead of Thursday's ceremony.

"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.

"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 at the inauguration 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 that 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.