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Ban troubled by Karzai's rhetoric

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 28, 2010. UPI/Pete Souza/White House
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 28, 2010. UPI/Pete Souza/White House | License Photo

VIENNA, April 8 (UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai's provocative comments about the international community won't help build relationships, U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.

Recent media accounts reported Karzai as saying international dignitaries were behind the fraud that marred last year's presidential election, which he won, Secretary-General Ban said in a release. Karzai was quoted in one report as threatening to join the Taliban militancy if international interference Afghanistan didn't stop.

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"I am troubled by all this rhetoric, which is not helpful and desirable at this time," Ban said during a visit in Vienna.

Ban noted Karzai sought U.N. technical and administrative support for the country's parliamentary elections scheduled for September.

"The international community is now committed and ready to support Afghanistan and we expect that there should be harmonious and full cooperation between the Afghanistan government and the international community," Ban said.

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