KABUL (AFP) - Afghanistan`s newly elected president Hamid Karzai vowed to eliminate private militias as he acknowledged his victory for the first time Thursday in the country`s historic ballot.
Karzai`s resounding victory in the nation`s first presidential election was proclaimed on Wednesday after an inquiry found that the results were not affected by several shortcomings in the conduct of the voting.
"My countrymen and women, thank you for the trust you have put in me," Karzai said during a speech at the presidential palace on Thursday.
"....in Afghanistan people voted for me and other candidates. I thank those who voted for me and for other candidates; their vote was for the stable future of Afghanistan, we respect their vote."
The US-backed president, who has led Afghanistan since the ousting of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime by a US-led operation in late 2001, pledged to work towards ensuring a stable and bright future for the war-torn nation.
Speaking to reporters after the speech, he said one of his priorities would be to extend the rule of the central government in the provinces, many of which are controlled by warlords and militias.
"The private militias will be eliminated," Karzai said. "There will be no private armies."
Regional warlords with their private militias are considered a major hurdle to not only restoring law and order but completing much needed reconstruction after two decades of war and civil strife.
Afghanistan has an estimated 60,000 unofficial militia fighters despite a year-long UN-sponsored nationwide campaign to disarm private militias.
Karzai promised to build up the embryonic Afghan National Army, which now has 16,000 troops, and strengthen the police system.
"That is a promise we have been giving," he said when asked about the expansion of the army.
Karzai also thanked the international community for "its tremendous assistance for the election", and "all those who somehow participated in the election."
"Without the help of the international community we could not reach this success," he said.
In his address Karzai particularly mentioned the three UN foreign election workers currently detained by a militant group after being kidnapped from Kabul at gunpoint last week.
"We hope to be able to win their release sound and safe," he said.
When asked whether his main opponent in the elections, former education minister and Northern Alliance leader Yunus Qanooni, could again be a member of his government, Karzai said those who shared his ideas could join him.
"Today I talked with Qanooni by phone. Those who have the same ideas as me can join me in the government," Karzai said.
Qanooni, who was interior minister in the immediate post-Taliban administration and later held the education portfolio, polled a distant second to Karzai with 16.3 percent.
Qanooni on Thursday congratulated Karzai although he reminded him of alleged irregularities in the October polls.
"I congratulate Karzai and wish him success," Qanooni, the favourite of the powerful anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, told a joint press conference with several of Karzai`s rivals.
However, Qanooni repeated charges of widespread fraud and irregularities.
"On one hand we have widespread fraud before, during and after the election and on the other hand we have the will of the people," he said.
"I prefer to respect the will of the people and accept the results."
Millions of Afghan men and women defied threats from militants to vote in the October 9 elections.
The Afghan leader also received a congratulatory call from President George W. Bush Thursday, following the US leader`s re-election.
Afghanistan`s election "makes clear that a free Afghanistan is a partner in the war on terror, a beacon of hope in a troubled region of the world, and an example to other countries working to realize the promise of freedom," Bush said in a statement released by the White House.
11/04/2004 - 18:07 GMT - AFP