Brown said the government headed by Karzai, cenre, had become a 'by-word for corruption' [Reuters]

While defending the UK's mission in Afghanistan amid waning public support, Brown admitted that Karzai's government had become a "by-word for corruption".

Addressing the Royal College of Defence Studies in London on Friday, Brown said: "Sadly, the government of Afghanistan has become a by-word for corruption.

"And I am not prepared to put the lives of British men and women in harm's way for a government that does not stand up against corruption."

Anti-corruption agency

He said he had spoken to Karzai, whose re-election was confirmed this week, several times in recent days and urged progress on the key issues of security, governance, reconciliation, economic development and regional relations.

Brown said: "If the government fails to meet these five tests, it will not only have failed its own people, it will have forfeited its right to international support."

The prime minister said he had proposed that Karzai draw up a new anti-corruption law, with a new commission advised by a high-profile international figure to investigate fraud and set up new rules for the transparent awarding of contracts.

Electoral fraud

Last month, a UN-backed election watchdog found widespread fraud had taken place during the country's August 20 presidential election.

A date for a presidential election runoff was announced only to be cancelled after Abdullah Abdullah, Karzai's political rival, withdrew his candidacy citing the government's refusal to reform the election commission.

There is growing public unease in the UK about the Afghan mission [EPA]

Warning Karzai on government appointments, Brown said: "Cronies and warlords should have no place in the future of a democratic Afghanistan."

Brown's remarks came in the course of a bloody week for British troops in Afghanistan with seven soldiers killed since last Saturday.

Five were shot by an Afghan policeman on Tuesday, bringing to 230 the number killed since the US-led invasion in October 2001.

Training priority

The prime minister repeated that the mission was to stop al-Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a base for attacks on Britain and elsewhere, and said it "must not fail".

"We cannot, must not and will not walk away," he said.

He said more Afghan troops were needed, adding: "The first priority of any government is to provide security for its people.

"It is not sustainable to subcontract that task indefinitely to the international community.

"So the expansion and training of the Afghan army and police must be the new government's first priority."

About 500 British troops are involved in mentoring Afghan soldiers and policemen to help them take over security from international forces, but this role was thrown into question by Tuesday's shooting.

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