Security tight for Karzai's inauguration as president

Afghan and international forces laid a security ring around Kabul today as dignitaries travelled from around the world for the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan’s first popularly-elected president.

In their biggest operation since the October election, which Karzai won in a landslide, police and troops cordoned off the route from the city’s battle-scarred airport to the presidential palace, where the US-backed leader is to be sworn in tomorrow.