The newly-elected head of Afghanistan's transitional authority has pledged to run a genuinely democratic, effective and clean government.
In Kabul today (Friday), Hamid Karzai said support for the U-S-led war on terrorism remains his top priority.
Mr. Karzai -- who referred to himself as president -- added that Afghan warlords will gradually be disarmed as a new national army is built.
Afghanistan's Loya Jirga grand council elected Mr. Karzai Thursday by an overwhelming margin -- with more than 80-percent of the more than 15-hundred delegates voting for him. He heads a transitional government that will run Afghanistan for the next 18 months.
One of Mr. Karzai's first tasks is choosing cabinet ministers, who must be approved by the Loya Jirga. Afghan political sources say the choices are the subject of intense backroom negotiations.
President Bush telephoned Mr. Karzai Friday to congratulate him on the election results and express confidence in the Afghan leader's abilities. Other congratulations came from Pakistan, Russia, Iran, Germany, France and Canada.
Some 13-thousand coalition forces are in Afghanistan, scouring the mountainous southeastern regions for forces loyal to deposed Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and Osama bin Laden -- the head of the al-Qaida terrorist network and accused mastermind of the September 11th attacks.