New Afghan cabinet sworn in

Karzai promised to root out corruption

The Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai, has sworn in his cabinet.

It will govern the country until elections are held in 18 months' time.

I hope that through education I can help the children of Afghanistan

Yunis Qanooni, Education Minister

The swearing-in took place at the presidential palace in Kabul after the former interior minister - the ethnic Tajik Yunis Qanooni - decided to accept the role of education minister having previously rejecting the offer.

The other outstanding post, that of minister for women, has been given to Mahboba Hoqooqmal, a former head of law at Kabul University.

She was abroad and did not know of the appointment, Mr Karzai said.

Her predecessor, Sima Samar, had been unpopular with some conservative Muslims, who accused her of being un-Islamic.

About half of the 28 ministers belong to the Tajik-led Northern Alliance - the group that swept the Taleban from power last year.

Pledges

The ceremony was attended by officials of former King Zahir Shah as well as representatives of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

"We promise to fight against bureaucratic corruption and safeguard our independence and national sovereignty and we pledge to be honest and faithful to the country's national interest," Mr Karzai told the ministers as part of the oath.

Qanooni: proud to serve the children

The swearing-in went ahead hours after Mr Qanooni reversed his earlier decision not to accept the post of education minister, in addition to that of national security adviser.

"I hope that through education I can help the children of Afghanistan," Mr Qanooni told reporters. "I am happy once again to be in the service of the people."

The education portfolio was offered to Mr Qanooni a week after he resigned the interior ministry "for the sake of national unity", making way for Mr Karzai's choice of an ethnic Pashtun, Taj Mohammad Wardak.

Mr Karzai has been trying to produce a more ethnically balanced cabinet than that of his six-month interim government, which was dominated by members of the Northern Alliance which helped international forces overthrow the Taleban.

Ethnic rivalry

Pashtuns form the majority in Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance, meanwhile, is dominated by ethnic Tajiks.

Some Pashtuns have felt they have been victimised because the Taleban were mainly Pashtun. Other ethnic groups such as the Uzbeks also wanted greater representation.

We pledge to be honest and faithful to the country's national interest

Hamid Karzai

The key foreign and defence ministries remain with the Tajiks, who have another five posts.

Two ministries - civil aviation and tourism - were taken from supporters of the former king and given to Northern Alliance supporters.

Mr Karzai, himself a Pashtun, named 12 other Pashtuns to his cabinet, three Uzbeks, two Hazaras, two Shias and a Turkmen.