Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has promised to prosecute corrupt government officials and end a culture of impunity, speaking during his inauguration.

KABUL (Reuters) - Newly-inaugurated Afghan President Hamid Karzai pledged on Thursday to tackle corruption and said his country's security forces should be ready to take over responsibility of unstable areas in three years.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai, battling to rebuild a tarnished reputation, was sworn into office for a second five-year term on Thursday, as he faced renewed criticism from Washington over corruption.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai, battling to rebuild a tarnished reputation, was sworn into office for a second five-year term on Thursday, as he faced renewed criticism from Washington over corruption.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai, battling to rebuild a tarnished reputation, is to be sworn into office for a second term on Thursday as he faces renewed criticism from Washington over corruption.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is to be sworn into office for a second full term on Thursday as he struggles to rebuild a tarnished reputation and convince the West he is still a credible partner after eight years of war.

BEIJING (Reuters) - President Barack Obama took time out of his busy diplomatic schedule in China to meet with his half-brother, who lives in the southern part of the country -- but only for five minutes.

KABUL (AFP) - The United States ramped up pressure on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to start delivering on the eve of his inauguration Thursday for another five years in power with Kabul under security lockdown.

SEOUL (AFP) - US President Barack Obama arrived in South Korea Wednesday on the last leg of his debut Asian tour, with North Korea's nuclear programme due to top the agenda after three days of negotiations in China.

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Wednesday to end the Afghan war before he leaves office, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Hamid Karzai to make a new compact with his people on the eve of his inauguration.

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama aims to bring the Afghan war to an end before he leaves office, he said on Wednesday, the eve of a swearing-in ceremony Western officials hope can help salvage Hamid Karzai's tattered reputation.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghans said on Wednesday they were resigned to the same daily grind of security fears and hardship after President Hamid Karzai is sworn in for a new term following his victory in a fraud-marred election.

KABUL (Reuters) - Foreign dignitaries began descending on Kabul on Wednesday, the eve of the inauguration of President Hamid Karzai, who is struggling to rehabilitate his tattered reputation in the West after a fraud-marred election.

KABUL (Reuters) - Foreign dignitaries began descending on Kabul on Wednesday, the eve of the inauguration of President Hamid Karzai, who is struggling to rehabilitate his tattered reputation in the West after a fraud-marred election.

Sarah Palin has dropped a heavy hint that she might seek to run for the White House in 2012 as champion of America's Republican right.

NEW YORK (AFP) - Sarah Palin dropped a heavy hint Tuesday that she might seek to run for the White House in 2012 as champion of America's Republican right.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Sarah Palin said a run for the White House in 2012 is "not on my radar screen right now" as the Republican carefully did not close the door to a possible candidacy in an interview that launched her big book tour.

CHICAGO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Sarah Palin said a run for the
White House in 2012 is "not on my radar screen right now" but
the Republican politicians carefully did not close the door to
a possible candidacy in an interview that launched her big book
tour.