Hamid Karzai was sworn-in as Afghanistan's first directly-elected president amid tight security at his fortified Presidential Palace Tuesday, vowing to boost war on the booming poppy cultivation, introduce good governance and strengthen security in the war-plagued country.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (Front L2) and former King Mohammad Zahir Shah (Front L1) review the honor guard before the inauguration in Kabul's Presidential Palace, Afghanistan, Dec. 7, 2004.

Karzai gained a landslide victory in the Oct. 9 presidential election.

"I swear to obey and safeguard the provisions of the sacred religion of Islam, to observe the constitution and other laws of Afghanistan and supervise their implementation," said Karzai in repeating the oath of allegiance read to him by Afghan Chief Justice Mawlawi Fazl Hadi Shinwari, "with the assistance of God and the support of the nation, to make great and sincere efforts for the happiness and progress of the people of Afghanistan."

The ceremony, administered by the chief justice, was witnessed by over 500 Afghan and foreign dignitaries including former United

Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy to Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi, US Vice President Dick Cheney, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui and Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi.

Karzai, who got the mandate through the historic Oct. 9 presidential elections to rule the post-war nation for a five-year term, earlier ruled the country as head of the interim and transitional administrations after the fall of Taliban in late 2001.

Outlining his policy to the nation, immediately after taking oath as the popularly elected head of state, he said that fighting on drug and establishing durable peace were among his agenda.

"Our principal promises are ensuring lasting stability throughout the country, elimination of poppy cultivation, fight drug trafficking, disarmament of former combatants, eradication of poverty and provision of public service," Karzai said to the Afghan nation as well the guests attending the inauguration ceremony.

"We will stand by the promises which we have made for the goodness of this nation, we will invoke Almighty Allah for his blessing and we will depend on you for courage and support," a smiling Karzai said.

"I am confident and proud that this nation is determined to rebuild Afghanistan and rebuild it fast to live in security and stand on its own feet," said the trimmed-beard Karzai attired in national dress.

Karzai called upon the international community to coordinate their assistance in the ongoing war on terrorism.

"Decisive victory over terrorism requires serious and continued cooperation at regional and international level," he told the audience.

"Our fight against terrorist is not over even though we have succeeded to reduce this common enemy of humanity to lesser threat in this country," he stressed in his 15 minute-speech delivered in both Afghan national languages Dari and Pashtu.

He also termed the terrorism and flourishing poppy cultivation in his country a serious threat to the stability of the region as well as the world.

"The relationship between terrorism and narcotics and the continued threat of extremism in the region and the world at large are a source of a continued concern," he emphasized.

Karzai, who came to power after the fall of Taliban under a US-led military invasion in late 2001, thanked the US government and allies for their support in ousting former fundamentalist regime and rebuilding the war-shattered nation.

"May I take the opportunity to thank the United States of America for helping us generously in so many difficult ways. I would also thank the United Nations, European Union, Canada, Japan, some of our neighbors and many others and those countries have extended to us a helping hand when we needed," he noted.

Karzai, 46, also promised to protect the civil liberties and human rights besides strengthening of administrative reforms and rooting out corruption from government departments.

He also called for further enhancing of relations in all fields with Afghanistan's neighbors and urging them to invest in the post-war nation.

"I am committed to deliver on these promises with the help of God Almighty over the next five years," Karzai noted.