U.S. calls on Afghanistan government to be more effective

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday voiced its support for the Afghanistan government, but stressed that the government must be legitimate and more effective.

"The emergence of an effective Afghan government is very important, one that is both seen as legitimate in the eyes of the Afghan people and one that, more significantly, addresses the needs of the Afghan people," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley.

"Whoever emerges as the victor will have to obviously attack the issue of corruption, perceptions that do exist within the minds of Afghan people about the performance of that government," said the spokesman, referring to Afghan's disputed August presidential election.

Official results showed that President Hamid Karzai gained enough votes to win the election. But an UN-backed panel said it had found "clear and convincing evidence" of widespread fraud, ordering the independent election committee to conduct a recount of votes.

Reports here said the United States has been dissatisfied with Karzai, who has ruled the country since the Taliban was overturned in 2001, for his failure to secure the country from Taliban attacks, governmental corruption, drug-trafficking and his close ties with warlords.