Kabul, Mar 27 : Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said that accounts of widespread corruption within his government are exaggerated and politically motivated.

Government figures, including relatives of Karzai, have been accused of abusing their connections for profit.

Karzai told a news conference every government employee would be required to publicly declare his or her income, the BBC reported.

The Afghan President said he earned 500 dollars a month, had savings of 10,000 dollars in a bank in Germany and had no assets.

Kabul  - The US military claimed on Friday that their forces killed 13 suspected insurgents in two firefights in southern Afghanistan, as the White House is expected to unveil its new strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan later in the day.

US and Afghan forces attacked an insurgent hideout in Lashkargah, the capital city of southern Helmand province Thursday night after receiving information regarding the militants' presence in the area, the US military said in statement.

London  - The head of the British army has given the clearest indication yet that hundreds more troops could be sent to Afghanistan to support a US-led surge expected to be detailed Friday.

"Improving security in Afghanistan will be dictated by having more boots on the ground. I don't mind whether the boots will be American, British or Afghan," General Richard Dannatt told the Times in an interview.

London, Mar 27: British Army Chief General Sir Richard Dannatt is ready to send 2,000 troops to Afghanistan, increasing soldiers strength to 10,000.

General Dannatt fears that the US-led mission will struggle without significant reinforcements and is waiting British Cabinet approval to send additional troops to Afghanistan.

US President Barack Obama will announce on Friday an extra 17,000 US troops and a big rise in civilian officials as part of his new strategy in Afghanistan, The Times reported.

Washington, Mar. 27 : Key aides of the Obama administration have warned that Washington just has about a year to turn things around in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

An official said twelve months is about the time they have to show measurable progress before public support wanes and policy turns into an electoral slanging match between the Democrats and the Republicans.

President Barack Obama briefed members of Congress on Thursday about his new policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is to be revealed on Friday.

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