IN dwelling on the need to combat corruption, to talk to the Taliban and to transfer control of policing Afghanistan from foreign troops to the country's own security institutions, Hamid Karzai did enough to appease the US and its allies, who regarded his inauguration speech as a key test of the newly reappointed president.

US officials say Karzai has been given six months to clean up his government, with the clock starting from the inauguration. But there were several reminders, including a subtle dig at the much disliked British presence in the country, that Karzai remains a man who does not like to be pushed around.

The UK, the second-biggest troop contributor, did not warrant a mention as Karzai name-checked the many other countries risking lives and spending vast amounts of money propping up a weak government. Leaving the UK off such a list is a trick he has pulled before, much to the fury of British generals.

Karzai made a point of praising the Independent Election Commission, the Afghan-led body that ran the 20 August election that turned into such a disaster for the country. He called for the further “Afghanisation” of the country's electoral institutions.

A bill currently before parliament will see the removal from the election watchdog of foreigners, whose insistence on an investigation of millions of doubtful ballots infuriated Karzai. The absence of such international commissioners could crush any hopes for the forthcoming parliamentary, district and mayoral elections Karzai mentioned in his speech.

Afghanisation will be far more welcome among the international community in areas such as security, where Karzai promised that by the end of his term in office the Afghan army and police will have taken lead responsibility everywhere in the country.

— The Guardian, London