Cable leaks 'hurt US-Afghan ties'

Saturday, 4 December 2010

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was labelled 'weak' in a leaked cable. (AP)

Afghanistan's finance minister has denied some of the information in leaked US diplomatic cables and warned the release will hurt US-Afghan relations.

Afghan Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal said that he did not call President Hamid Karzai "an extremely weak man" as reported in a US Embassy cable dated February 26, 2010.

Mr Zakhilwal said it would not be "business as usual" between key Afghan ministers and US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry.

The cable was among a tranche released by the WikiLeaks website. Together, they portray Afghanistan as rife with corruption to the highest levels of government.

The leaks could further erode support for the nine-year war and bolster the concerns of US politicians who have threatened to hold back aid until they are convinced the money will not end up lining the pockets of the political elite.

Mr Karzai's spokesman, Waheed Omar, has said the presidential office was reviewing the documents, but that he did not believe they would strain US-Afghan relations