Karzai tries to please all with new Afghan cabinet

Afghan President Hamid Karzai unveiled his choice of cabinet yesterday, reflecting a need to please all his backers, from warlords to Washington, and commit to clean government.

The names of 23 Karzai nominees for ministerial posts were presented to parliament for approval and will be debated in the coming days in a bid to end months of political paralysis following a controversial August election.

Karzai has nominated 11 current ministers to remain in their jobs, including Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar and Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, both of whom are well regarded by the international community.

Minister of parliamentary affairs, Anwar Khan Jigdalik, read out the list, each nominee striding to the front of the chamber to present himself, some waving and bowing.

Karzai's choices are seen as the first test of his commitment to building a clean and accountable government, and eradicating the corruption infesting every level of life in Afghanistan and helping to fuel a Taliban insurgency.

Presidency spokesman Waheed Omar said the list reflected "extensive consultations" and represented the president's commitment to reform.

"The president has listened to the Afghan people, to different political parties, to the international community. He has made a decision based on all those consultations," Omar told reporters.

"We had to be sure that we introduce people who will represent and who will be able to reflect our new policies, who will be able to implement the new policy, which of course, on top of everything, is anti-corruption."