Western leaders have urged Hamid Karzai to deliver tangible¹ improvements in Afghans' lives after he was sworn in for a second presidential term.

阿富汗总统哈米德·卡尔扎伊宣誓就职第二个任期之后，西方国家首脑敦促其对提高阿富汗人民生活质量提出切实可行的方法。

Mr Karzai was declared Afghan president after a controversial election

In his inauguration²（开幕仪式） speech, Mr Karzai said he would tackle corruption³ and build security forces capable of taking over from foreign troops in five years.

He also pledged to implement⁴（落实，实施） social, judicial⁵ and administrative⁶ reforms.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised his "positive, comprehensive" remarks but said results were needed.

And Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said progress towards "a capable and inclusive administration" was vital both for Afghans and for nations with troops in the country.

Security pledge

In his speech, Mr Karzai said lessons had to be learned from the last eight years.

He described corruption as a "dangerous problem", adding: "We will soon organise⁷ a conference in Kabul to organise new and effective ways to combat this problem."

He also called for the strength of Afghan security forces to be bolstered⁸（支持） and the role of international forces reduced.

"We hope that the Afghan forces will lead the task of security and stability throughout the country in the coming five years," he said.

Inviting⁹ his main defeated rival, Abdullah Abdullah, to work with him, he called for a national gathering¹⁰ to help bring peace.

Speaking to the BBC in Kabul after the ceremony, Mrs Clinton said Mr Karzai's speech had set out a "very positive, comprehensive path forward".

"It was clear today in the speech that the president has a vision of where he wants to lead the country, and it was reassuring¹¹ to people, it was exciting because it was such a statement of resolve," she said.

"But the proof is in the pudding. Now we've got to get to work and make it happen - he knows that, his ministers know that."

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband echoed her comments saying: "Now it's deeds that matter - not just words."

The Taliban, however, condemned¹² the inauguration, saying Mr Karzai had become president "through fraud and lies".

And Mr Abdullah - Mr Karzai's closest rival in the discredited¹³（不足信的，不名誉的） August poll - said he was not optimistic that Mr Karzai could "meet the expectations of the Afghan people and the friends of Afghanistan".

Mr Karzai was declared Afghan president after a second round election run-off was abandoned when his sole remaining challenger pulled out, saying the vote could not be free and fair.

Widespread fraud in the 20 August first round led to Mr Karzai being stripped of the outright¹⁴（率直的，完全的） win he appeared to have secured.

The start of his second term coincides with mounting concern in countries that have sent troops over casualty numbers and the progress of the war itself.

The Obama administration is currently debating sending more troops, with a decision expected in the coming days.