KABUL, Feb 5: Interim leader Hamid Karzai hoisted Afghanistan’s new flag on Tuesday in a symbolic ceremony marking the start of a new era, and called for a national army to rein in warlords who control much of the country.

Karzai admitted he “knew all along” a bloody battle in eastern Paktia province last week would happen and said it highlighted the need for an Afghan national army “as soon as possible”.

“I’m sure it will not be the last incident. We will have things like that happening again to us in Afghanistan until we raise a national defence force,” he said after a meeting with British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.

The battle in Gardez, the capital of Paktia, in which at least 50 people were killed, was the most serious of several recent clashes between tribal strongmen and ethnic commanders.

The fighting has included troops loyal to high-ranking members of Karzai’s cabinet and has raised doubts about the interim administration’s ability to govern outside the capital.

But Karzai said the new black, red and green flag should be a symbol of brotherhood for Afghans as they try to return to constitutional rule and rebuild after more than two decades of war.

“Today marks a new era for our country. I hope my country will have peace forever,” Karzai said before hoisting the flag over the presidential palace for the first time since his interim cabinet took office in December.

Karzai’s UN-backed cabinet was sworn in on Dec 22 following more than 20 years of conflict.

But bitter rivalries between ethnic commanders and tribal chiefs have marred Afghanistan’s post-Taliban efforts at peace.

Karzai conceded the blame for the fighting in Gardez was the fault of his handpicked governor, Padsha Khan, who “had simply no right” to use his army to try to oust rival warlord Saifullah, who eventually defeated Khan’s forces.

“I knew all along that (fighting) was going to happen there,” Karzai said.

“But still it’s very sad. This is all the more reason for us to raise the national Afghan army as soon as possible and to stop support to local commanders as soon as possible.”

Britain currently leads the UN-mandated foreign security force which is restricted to 4,500 soldiers patrolling Kabul.

Last month Hoon said there would be a “significant reduction” in the number of British troops in Afghanistan when its three-month leadership role expired, but on Tuesday he offered British help to build an Afghan army.—AFP