Karzai calls for control over aid

Mr Karzai's government has criticised the role of NGOs

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has opened a donor conference in Kabul with a plea for his government to have a greater say in spending aid money.

Mr Karzai, who has questioned the role of NGOs in handling the money, said his government was "the ultimate body accountable to the Afghan people".

His finance minister said the billions should be channelled to the budget.

No new pledges are expected this year as $8.3bn was set out at last year's forum, covering two to three years.

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Afghanistan

Mr Karzai told representatives of 40 donor countries: "The Afghan government... must be better informed about, and play its due role in, steering the development process.

"The government must become the anchor for a more integrated, transparent and accountable development effort."

Mr Karzai was elected president in October after heading an interim government since the Taleban were ousted in late 2001.

Election pledge

The three-day conference is focusing on spending strategy rather than aid pledges.

We must now work together to overcome chronic poverty, and build Afghanistan into a stable and thriving economy in the region Hamid Karzai

It began a day after the Afghan government announced its budget for the coming year, in which one-third of the $4.75bn sum is to be spent on security.

About 93% of the budget comes from foreign donations.

Afghan Finance Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady said the government would address international concerns over the transparency of spending, but added: "I urge all of you to channel most of your resources through our budget."

Main concerns for future spending apart from security are infrastructure, building the private sector, irrigation and eliminating opium poppy cultivation.

The Afghan government has criticised some non-governmental organisations for squandering funds and hampering the growth of Afghan companies.

After his election win, President Karzai pledged to more than double per capita income and halve the number of people living in poverty within five years.