Afghan president Hamid Karzai today pledged to create an inclusive government and banish corruption.

But in a televised address to the nation he did not spell out how he would institute reforms or mention whether he is willing to make concessions to his opponents.

Mr Karzai spoke a day after being declared president in the wake of the decision by his main opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, to drop out of a planned election run-off because, he said, it could not be free or fair.

Mr Karzai said he wants people from every part of the country in his government, including political opponents and Taliban who are ready to cooperate with the administration.

He said: "Those who want to work with me are most welcome, regardless of whether they opposed me in the election or whether they supported me in the elections."

The Taliban claimed their own victory, saying in a statement the cancelled run-off showed their efforts to derail the vote by threats and attacks were successful.

"Our brave mujahideen were able to disrupt the entire process. Even the air-strikes and ground forces were not able to stop our mujahideen from their attacks," the statement said. It described the elections as a "tool of foreigners".

Mr Abdullah, who once served as Mr Karzai's foreign minister, has said he will not join the administration but will work from the outside for reforms and for national unity.

Mr Karzai said he needs international support and does not want to squander the goodwill of those supplying troops and funds to Afghanistan.

The US and its allies have also pressured Mr Karzai to institute reforms and to reach out to the Abdullah camp.

President Barack Obama called Mr Karzai to congratulate him but also to insist that he tackle corruption, saying that "the proof is not going to be in words. It's going to be in deeds".

Mr Karzai acknowledged that Afghanistan "has a bad name from corruption."

He said: "We will do our best through all possible means to eliminate this dark stain from our clothes."

He blamed inadequate laws and enforcement for the problem.

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