Give us action, leaders tell Karzai

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Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed Mr Karzai's election victory, adding the leader now needed to set out a "unity programme" for Afghanistan and crack down on corruption.

In Washington the message was similar if not more direct. President Barack Obama told Mr Karzai that he expected him to move "boldly and forcefully" to implement reform.

"Proof is not going to be in words but in deeds," he added in an indication that Washington will be keeping a close eye on progress before announcing a potential US troop surge.

The White House has previously indicated that they would not make the decision to up numbers in Afghanistan - possibly by as many as 40,000 fighters - until it was convinced it had a strong partner to work with.

No mention was made in Washington on Monday as to when the US administration might make its move in terms of additional soldiers.

Downing Street said Mr Karzai's confirmation as victor of the disputed presidential election brings the deployment of an additional 500 UK troops to the country a step closer.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Brown said that Afghanistan now needs urgent action on corruption and governance as well as the strengthening of home-grown security forces which will pave the way for the eventual withdrawal of British troops.

Mr Brown last month set three conditions for boosting Britain's military commitment in Afghanistan to 9,500. These were that the troops could be properly equipped, that other allies put their "fair share" into the Afghan mission and that a new Government in Kabul demonstrated its commitment to train home-grown forces.

The PM's spokesman told reporters: "We would hope that when President Karzai is inaugurated that does indeed take us a step further towards fulfilling these conditions."