Hamid Karzai

In his inaugural speech in Kabul, a smiling Karzai, wearing a traditional green robe and a black lambskin hat, said the hopes of ordinary Afghans would drive him during what is likely to be a tough five-year term. He repeated his main pledges -- cracking down on the booming opium trade, disarming militias and lifting living standards.

"We have left a hard and dark past behind us, and today we are opening a new chapter in our history in a spirit of friendship with the international community," Karzai said, speaking in Pashto and Dari, Afghanistan's two main languages.

He said the fight against terrorism was "not over" and urged sustained international aid and cooperation to defeat increasing links between extremists and drug trafficking.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 18, 2004
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