U.S. Envoy To Afghanistan Calls Karzai 'Paranoid,' 'Weak'

The U.S. envoy to Afghanistan calls President Hamid Karzai a "paranoid," "weak," and "overly self-conscious" leader who may never stop America-bashing in the latest of the purported U.S. diplomatic cables to be made public by WikiLeaks.

The private comments appeared to have been made by Karl Eikenberry, who has been ambassador to Afghanistan since April 2009.

In one document, Eikenberry accuses Karzai of failing to grasp the "most rudimentary principles of state-building."

State corruption is portrayed as the norm in the beleaguered south Asian country.

A cable detailing the likely lineup of Karzai's new cabinet described the agriculture minister as "the only minister that was confirmed about whom no allegations of bribery exist."

Meanwhile, "The Guardian" reports that the leaked cables also "expose a devastating contempt for the British failure to impose security and connect with ordinary Afghans."

compiled from Reuters reports